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THE

EMIGRANT'S

VADE-HECUM: or frFILE

TO THE

"PRICE GRANT

ysHJEUKimuui sujltjlhjl.

LONDON :

PUBLISHED FOR

*<THB AMEBICAK, ENGLISH AND YENEZUELAN TRADINO AND COMMERCIAL.

company/' the crescent, AMERICA SQUARE, E.C.,

BY
MESSRS. TBUBNEB AND CO., 60, FATEBNOSTEE BOW, E.C.

1868.

JAMES FREDERICK PATTISON,

DIKECTOR-GEKERAL IN EUllOPE OF THE

jiMERICAN, ENGLISH AND VENEZUELAN TRADING AND

COMMERCIAL CO MP ANT.

r&iKTi^D BY Howard 8c Jomeb, 18, Cvllvm Stbeet.

1868.

PREFACE.

'f»l-

.The object of this little work will unfold itself to those who
peruse its few pages. A word or too, however, may be prefixed to them
for the sake of clearness. It is not from any personal motive, but with
the view of showing that the Author is mindful of the debt which every
cue owes to their country for birth and education, especially in that
country's hour of misfortune, that she ventures to lay before the reader
information culled in a great measure from the most eminent authorities
upon the subject of which the work treats, viz. : Emigration to the
Price Grant of 240,000 square miles of land, given as a future home,
to the Southern people, as well as to every other Anglo-Saxon, who may
wish for a healthy and happy dwelling-place. She also thinks it will be
a source of twofold joy and satisfaction to all Englishmen and English
women, who sympathise with the oppressed South, that, although Southern
chivalry may have been overpowered by numerical superiority, the energy
and industry, which made Virginia, the Carolinas, and their sister
States what they were, before tbey were trodden down by the rude heel
of military despotism, still survive, and that a new field is now opened
for the exercise of these qualities. It is necessary to say something
respecting the collection of a Library for the infant Colonies. During
the period of Spanish domination, Venezuela entreated the Court of
Madrid to found a University in one of her cities, but was coldly
answered '* that American Colonies required no Edupation ". The
Author is anxious to clear the Southern people from the imputation
that they are in any respect more indifferent to English Education and
English Literature than were their forefathers in the " Mother Country",
She must therefore thank her friends and well-wishers in England for
evincing by their kind co-operation, that their actions are guided by
motives far different from those which inspired the short-sighted
Government of Spain in the example quoted.

In conclusion, the Author invites all into whose hands this
work may fall, to a fair and candid perusal. Her object and that of her
nephew, (whose valuable assistance she obtained in collating the latest
and most correct geographical information to be procured of Venezuela,
and in preparing this matter for the press,) will be fully accomplished —
if the Colonists from either land find as happy a home in Guayana, though
fond regret may not imnaturally blend itself with happiness, as they
remember to have had by their old firesides, if at the same time the
dormant resources of South America be developed, and European enter-
prise receive fresh stimulus, and lastly if an impetus be given to
geographical discovery, without which civilization cannot spread over
the whole surface of the earth.

MARGARET AMANDA PATTISON, of Maryland, U,S.A.

CONTENTS.

Introductiou

Geographical description of Venezuela

Aspect of the Country and the Carribbean Sea

State of Commercial and Colonial Intercourse

Commerce, Foreign and Domestic

Increase of Population

The Free Library for Caroni, South America

List of Donoi-s of Books, Music, &c., to the Free Library

dlime and Produce...

Araya Peninsula, or Government Salt Works

Food Products and other useful Articles

Forest Fruit Trees in a wild state

Useful Trees and Grape cultivation

Medicinal Gums and Oils . . .

Dye Woods

Trees useful ibr Manufacture, &c.

Building S tone

Mines in Venezuelan Guayana

The Animals useful in Venezuela ...

Birds, Eeptiles, Fishes, and Insects

The Grant of 240,000 square miles of Land, by the Venezuelan
Government to Dr. Henry M. Price and Associates

The American Venezuelan Emigration — Circular from Secre-
tary Bibas in Answer to Letters of Inquiry

Copy of Charter

Diary during the Voyage of Dr. Henry M. Price to Venezuela
in a series of Letters to his Wife, and through her commu-
nicated to the Public

Cotton growing in Venezuela

To the Editor of the Metropolitan Record, New Yor)j, on
Southern Emigration to Guayana ^ . . .

Venezuela — ^The advantages of Emigration and comparative
profit of Cotton Culture — the disinclination of Planters to
engage in any other occupation (from the St Louis Times)

PAGE

IG
24
27
28
31
32
35
49
£>3

c;3

64
G9
72
76

77
79
84

88
92

96
111

113

116

IV.

VA.QfL

For the Constitution and Union — The first or pioneer Com-
pany of American Emigrants : their arrivfd and reception
in Y enezueia ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• •.. ...iio

Keception of the first Emigrants by the Governor of Guayana 119
Arrival of the St. Louis Colony, &c. — ^Hqw the Emigrants are
pleased with the Country — The new Gold Discoveries —

Cotton — ^The Prospects, &c 121:

The incentive to Emigration — Safety of Business Enterprises
— Stability of the Government — Healthfulness of
v^iimave* occ. ... ... ... ... ... ... ...x ^(5*

Confirmation of the Grant to the American Colony, &c. ... 124

Letter from Colonel J. F. Belton (a St. Louis Emigrant) ... 1 2f)"
Letter from Captain F. A. Johnson to Colonel K. H. Musser,

Vice-President Venezuela Company 127

Departure of the Schooner United States with an addition to

the Colony ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 188

Ueport of Special Agent (John M. Van Conrt) ... 129-

Letter from John Lane, Jun. (EVom the Richmond Enquirer
and JSxdminer) ... ... ... ... ... ... 131

Beanty and Luxuriance of the Country, &c. (From St Louis

^ (/ iti^a /••• •■• ••• ••• t • • • • m ••• •••X t) *d

Letter from Dr. Julius P. Clements to Eev. J. A. Doll of

Scottsville ... ... . ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• 134

A Voyage up the Orinoco — General description of the State

of Guayana, &c. (By an Emigrant) 135

A descriptive Letter from an Emigrant Surveyor and Engineer,

Francis "Watkins, Esq. 139^

Gold Mines of Venezuela — Reports of their value and richness
—Results of Essays by English, French, and American
Mineralogists — ^The average yield two hundred dollars to

vXxw \ajmX ••• • • • ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• *•• Xt^ny*

Conclusion ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 145-

THE EMIGRANT'S GUIDE

^ TO THE

" PEICE GRANT " IN GXJAYAKA, VENEZUELA.

INTRODUCTION.

In the varied departments of politics, history, commerce, and
war, Sir Walter Raleigh was considerably in advance of most of
his contemporaries. But it was on the important subject of
colonization that he formed views, the soundness of which, although
ridiculed by his own contemporaries, has been attested by modem
experience. This result was owing partly to judicious foresight ;
pifftly to experimental knowledge. For the possession of the first
quality he had to thank his natural genius for statesmanship ; for
the second, the experience gained by an intrepid adventurer. The (

last taught him that the honour of tne Spanish flag — notwithstand- ^

ing the well known battle of Lepanto — ^was already tarnished by the
superior daring of English, French, and other cruisers ; the first
reminded him of the old scholastic doctrine, ^^ Every decrease is a
preparation for downfall." If Spain had really passed the acme of
ner colonial power, he thought, not unnaturally, that the rise of the
British navy must ensure a transfer of maritime superiority, and
with it of empire in the New World. Although Virginia was tBi^
object of Sir Walter's first enterprise, it was to the vast territory
of Guayana, in South America, that he ultimately turned his most
serious attention. It is true that his unsuccessM expedition did *

not realize his bold prophecy " That the empire of Guayana was
reserved for the English nation ;" yet in point of fact the ereat
statesman was more ^on^ in detail than in principle. The ti^e of
Anglo-Saxon emigration flowing to North America made England
comparatively careless in colonizing the Southern portion of the
Western hemisphere. Nevertheless, she began to form her settle-
ment of Berbice so far back as the year 1630, following this
colonization up by establishing herself in other parts of Guayana.
When in 1803 she resolved finally to keep what she had gained
from the Dutch in that country, she might fairly be reckoned a
genuine South American power. It is to a sister colony of the
English type that we wish to call the speciaL notice of the reader.
The Government of Veneasuela has granted to Dr. Price, a
distinguished citizen of the famous Southern State of Virginia, in

/ B

North America, no fewer than 240,000 square miles of land. Why
so noble a grant should have been made by one of the contracting
parties, and freely accepted by the other, it is not difficult to con-
jecture. Independent Venezuela is free from the absurd and
illiberal prejumces which characterized the policy of the European
power from which she derived her origin. Spain sought to divide
not to unite her colonies; her commanders were illustrious as
conquerors, but had no idea of settling a country.

It was not till 1801 that any foreigner was allowed to fix his
abode in a Spanish colony, and even then he had to pay the heavy
premium of 8200 reals. A native of Spain did not fere much better,
as no settler in a colony belonging to that kingdom could return to
tiie mother country without express license from the Government at
home, although he might originally have obtained the privilege of
becoming a colonist by special &vour. When these considerations,
couj^ed with the general character of the administration at Madrid
are borne in mind, it is not to be wondered at if we may believe
the testimony of distinguished travellers, that in the interior of
what was once Spanish Guayana there are not two inhabitants to a
square league, over much larger extents of territory than Belgium
and Switzerland. The object of the Garaccas Cabinet, now that
Venezuela is emancipated from the bondage of Spain, is precisely
the reverse of that which was pursued by the former governors.
They wish to see their country peopled, not a barren desert.
Aware that this fertile portion of South America is remarkable &r
its t resources, they are eager to acquire colonists who will give
thpose resources the fair play which has been hitherto withheld. To
whom then could they look with more assured hope than to those
who are traditionally renowned for their success in the work of
colonization, to members, in short, of the Anglo-Saxon &mily^
wherever resident.

The grant to Dr. Price then was made with peculiar propriety,
because the inhabitants of the Southern States have always
presented the most marked features of the Anglo-Saxon character,
it is not too much to say that such States as Virginia and the
Carolinas in their gradual developement are the brightest instances
of colonial success to be found in the history of the world. They
rose, not meteor like as did some of the early Spanish dependencies,
but by degrees achieved a victory over nature, with permanent
results, Captain John Smith, almost the first deservedly famous in
the annals of English America, boldly said "Nothing is to be
expected from Virginia but by labour." That labour was bestowed,
the effect of which is known, and to the descendants of such
settlers the present offer of emigration to Venezuela must afford

iBpecial interest. We may be sure that Dr. Price accepted the
rgrant of the Caraccas Govemment^ partly from motives of patriotisBo,
partly from an intelligent view of the Aiture commercial interests
of the world. Foreseeing the certain developement of Venezuela,
he felt that this was the very country to which Anglo-Saxon
civilization ought to be attracted. The object of these remarks are
not political, but a few words will suffice to treat this part of the
question. When the inhabitants of a great continent have been
seriously divided amongst themselves, it is clear that there will be
«ome who will not give up their opinions, if sustained bv deep and
hereditary convictions^ for the approval of the party for the moment
istronger.

This was the origin of manv amongst the old Greek colonies.
Ifot to mention the Ionian children of Athens, Tarentum was not
the less a famous city, because it was founded by a party which^
thought it expedient to emigrate in order to preserve tneir ancient
liberty. But when the Greek colonists emigrated, they did not
heeome hostile to their mother country ; on the contrary, they
ranged themselves by her side^ unless exceptional circumstances
intervened. The analogy between these Greek colonies and the new
one just established on the river Orinoco is not complete ; therefore
it must not be pushed too &r. But there are points of agreement
which must be Drought out with clearness. The Greek colonists
preserved their individual freedom ; the Venezuelan colony, though
peopled by a pure English race, prjBserves its own free institutions,
xhe Greeks were &r too sagacious to place themselves anywhere
save in the most &vourable spots for domestic happiness and
subsequent commerce ; the' Orinoco colony occupies tne territory
pronounced by Humboldt to be the best adapted for the reception
of European civilization. If by no means a bold or strained^ but
perfectly natural^ substitution we say Anglo-Saxon instead of
European, the truth is told. The parallel, however, must not be
•continued further between ancient Greece and modern America^
the former, however glorious the issue, being confined to so small a
space for her operations. This inference notwittetandin&p may be
•drawn; if little Greece with her small republics coidd found
colonies of such importance^ what is likely to oe the result in the
case of thoroughly English settlers with all the advantages to be
obtained by long matured experience? It is tiine to speak more
particularly of uie character of the countiy over which the grant
extends. We have said that it is for 240,000 square miles ; but
the territory is to lie on the eastern bank of the Orinoco^ with,
however, ml permission accorded to the new colonists to occupy
any unoccupied ground upon either bank of that celebrated river,

B 2

provided that the extent of the cKMicession is not exceeded. The
accompanying documents will show with clearness^ what has been
actuallj conceded. As a matter of &ct^ the first Anglo- American
ccdony chiefly issuing firom the Garolinas and Virginia^ has placed
itself on the left^ or western bank of the river Caroni, (within six^.
miles of the place where that tributary pours its waters into the
Orinoco), and also on various other parts suitable to agriculture. It
is not without much struggle that the Garoni will join the Orinocoy
as its bright coloured water is seen for sev^al miles unblended
with the darker waves of the larger river. The wholesomeness of
its waters has been ascertained beyond doubt^ notwithstanding
that its main branch is derived from mountains of sandstone. If
the Caroni eventually gives way to the Orinoco, it has already
received in its previous course the accession of fifty large tributaries.
When the Orinoco is thus reinforced, it finally reaches the ocean,
into which it pours fi'om its numerous mouths, and in its train,
the great river struggles violently against admixing with a large
body of water. Sir WsJter Scott has described this contest with
his usual expressive and yet geographical exactness : —

" Orinoco in his pride
KoUs to the main no trihute tide.
But 'gainst broad ocean urges £ar
A riyal sea of roaring war."

During its progress to the sea, the Orinoco receives no fewer than
436 rivers, oesides 2000 outlets and streams, the area of its basin,
according to Sir A. Schomburgh ^^ covering an extent half as
large again as the kingdom of Spain." But the most extraordinsoy
features in the character of this river is its bifiircation. About
18 miles below the village of Esmeralda it divides itself; the
southern branch, the Gassiquiari ultimately joins the Amazon by
means of the Rio Negro. It is necessary to bear these geographical
considerations in mind, in order to show that the possession of the
Caroni bank is distincdy connected by water communication both
with the ocean and the most important parts of South America.
It is in such a well watered country that the. first colony under
Dr. Price's grant has fixed its destinies. The City of Angostura
upon its left, the Caroni on its right, while before it the Orinoco is
flowing rapidly to the ocean. The first land which can be
descriea by a vessel proceeding out of one of the mouths of the
Orinoco is the English possession Trinidad, whilst on the extreme
East British Guiana flanks the infant colony. It is therefore under
the most fi*iendly auspices, and with her niost natural allies in the
neighbourhood that the Orinoco settlers have entered upoa their
new home. '

: GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION OF VENEZUELA.

Yenezuela has an average len^h of 860 miles. Its breadth
varies from 480 to 640 miles with a medium width of 500 miles.
Area 416^712 scmare miles. The island of Margarita off the coast^
and a number of smaller islands belong to the Republic.

The mountains hold a secondary importance^ and occupy but a
third of the whole territory. The Paramos or summit plains, have

fenerally an elevation of 12,000 feet above the level of the sea.
he valleys and table lands of the coast chains have collectively a
moderate elevation. In the southern part of the province of
Guayana, on the frontier of Brazil, rises an insulated group of
mountains, between the rivers Orinoco and Amazon, divided into
several chains, extending for the most part east and west, and called
<;ollectively the mountains of Parima. This extensive region still
remains unexplored, a wilderness overgrown with superb forests.
It is known, however, that the mountains of Parima no where attain
the elevation of the Paramos (12,000 feet,) so that their summits,
when cleared of toees, would be capable of yielding all the grains
of Europe.

From the mountains of Parima to the coast chain at Caraccas,
and from the mouths of the Orinoco to the foot of the Andes,
extends an immense plain, with an area of 150,000 square miles,
having in some places on its margin an elevation oi 1300 feet.
They are generallv destitute of trees, except in a few spots. These
plains are fitted chiefly for pasturage, and on them roam thousands
of wild and tame cattle and horses. The inhabitants of these
plains devote themselves entirely to this branch of industry.

The climate exhibits, in the highest degree, the equatorial or
tropical character. The changes of season are scarcely perceptible,
and vegetation sprouts forth perpetually. On the coast, the ther-
mometer ranges from 80^ to vO^ Fahrenheit the year round. On
the table lands the climate has an almost uniform range of
temperature throughout the year, the thermometer varying only
iibout ten degrees, from 70*^ to 80°. On the plains of the Orinoco,
the air is cooled by rapid evaporation.

The flora of the country is one of the richest in the world.
From the level of the sea to the height of 3300 feet, extend the
region of the palms, mingled with which are the cardona and cacti
OI candelabra forms ; sensitive mimosa, pine apple or bromelia, the
Palo de Yaca, which yields, on incision, a nutritious fluid, resembling
milk, and a great many other plants, firuits, &c. Among the large

timber trees^ may be mentioned the bauhema, of colossal size^ tbe^
bombax ceiba^ mahogany, live oak, sarsaparilla, copaiba, dragon's-
blood, and yarious other drugs, besides caucho (caoutchouc) or-
India-rubber, are all produced in the same region. Beginning at
an absolute elevation of 2000 feet, and extenmng up to 9000 feet,
are the febrifuge plants, sometimes forming great forests by them-
selves. Trees grow stunted and bare after 9000 , feet, where all
the grains of temperate regions attain perfection. Alpine plants
show themselves at a height of 9500 feet, increasing upward until
they approach their upper limit at 14,000 feet. At the eleyation
of 13,700 feet vegetation disappears altogether, and only lichens
and hepaticas cover the rocks as &r as the limits of perpetual
snow.

The forestsareamply stocked with the feather tribe, animals, and
monkeys. The rivers abound in fish and water fowl. The manati:
often weighing 800 pounds, and fi*om ten to fifbeen feet long^
are found in the Orinoco. They are killed for the sake of their
flesh, which resembles veal.

Venezuela is divided into fifteen provinces, and these into cantons^,
parishes, &c. The population is about two millions ; one-fourth
consists of Creoles or people of European descent, the balance con-
sists of people of colour, Mestizoes, Mulattoes, Zamboes, Indians,
and other mixed races, who are tiie peons or labouring class of the
country.

The constitution of Venezuela is similar to that of the old
United States of America. The laws are liberal and well admi-
nistered.

Gold, silver, copper, tin, coal, soda, asphalte, petroleum, salt,
alum, &c., have been found. The coal is said to be excellent, and
abundant in many places. It is bituminous, and said to be equal
to the best English Cannel coal.

At Araya, feeing* the sea, are extensive salt mines, which yield
the purest salt. The pearl fisheries along the coast, once so im-^
portant, are now completely abandoned. Mining is a neglected
industry, and when carried on, is pursued without energy. Manu-
&ctures are still in their infancy, and comprise only a few simple
articles for domestic uses. All kinds of industry are still in their
primitive condi^on; little is done by machinery or the implements
supplied by modem science, and tne old wooden plongn is still
used by the agriculturalist.

'^ The provinces of Venezuela are, viz., Apure, Barmas, Barce-
lona, Barquismeto, Carabobo^ Garaccas, Coro, Comana, Gundina-
marca, Guayara, Maracaybo, Margarita, Merida^ Tnijillo, and
Varinas.**— Tide Colton's Survey, 1850, U.S.

'^ The principal eities and towns are, yiz. —

Acliaqnes . ,
Barmas
Barcelona •
Barquismeto
Yal^cia • .
Caraecas .,
Goro • • • 4
Gumana •,

• •

4^000 Angostura^ or Giudad

12,000 BoKvar .. 15,000

16,000 Maracaybo.. .. 17,000

13,000 Asuncion .. .. 2,000

18,000 Merida .. .. 6,000

70,000 TmjiUo .. .. 4,000

6,000 LaGnayra.. ..10,000

16,000 Puerto Cabello .. 7,000

Tide '* JohmaiCt Cewiw."

The principal rivers are the Orinoco, Meta, Rio Negro^ Apure^
Ouayiare, Garoni, Gaura, Padamo, and Ventijiari.

The Orinoco river, next to the Amazon, is the krgest in the
world. This great river rises in the mountains of Parima, and
winds suecessivelj west, north, and east through the centre of the
Bepublic. About one hundred miles from the sea it separates into
numerous mouths, and thus enters the Atlantic in latitude 8^ 40^
north. Its course is estimated at 1600 miles. It is uninterruptedlj
navigable as far as the confluence of the Anaveni river, a distance
of 800 miles. There are shoals and eddies near Mutaco, in a
cove that bears the name of ^^ La Boca del Infiemo;" there are.
rapids near Oarichana and San Borja ; but in all these places the
river is never entirely barred, as a channel is left by which boats
can pass up and down. The rapids of Atures are most easily
passed when the water is low. At a distance of 36 miles from the
rapids of Atures, are the rapids of Maypures, which are more easily
passed at the time of great floods. Bejrond the Maypures and the
mouth of die Ganno Gameji, the Orinoco is again free from obstacles
£)r a distance of 500 miles, or nearly to its source. The water of
the Orinoco is white, and the area of its basin is about 200,000 square
miles, and from this it receives no less than 400 navigable tributaries.
The principal are the Meta, the Apure, and the Guaviare, each having
a navigation of 500 miles, apd the Garoni. By the Cassiquiari it
lias a singular navigable communication with the Rio Negro and
Amazon. About 600 miles from the ocean its breadth is about three
miles across, and when lowest about 65 fathoms, or 390 feet deep.
The commercial importance of the Orinoco river is inestimable:
its immense basin extends from the Andes to the Atlantic^ and
from BrazQ to the Garibbean Sea.

It is by the four largest tributary streams which the m^estic
river of the Orinoco receives on the right, the Garoni, the Gaura,.
1j^ Padamo, and the Yentuari, that European civilization will one
day penetrate into Venezuela Ouayana. The tributary streams of

the Lower Orinoco being the nearest to the coast^ and the cultiyated
regions of Venezuela were naturally the first to receive missionaries^
and with them some germs of social life. »

Corresponding to the Caroni and Gaura^ which flow toward the
norths are two great tributary streams of the Upper Orinoco^ that
send their waters toward the south : these are the Padamo and the
Yentuari ; they furnish superior advantages for agriculture and
pasturage.

The Meta and the Apure flow into the Orinoco^ and lead to the
eastern side of the Cordilleras of New Granada. The delta of the
Orinoco comprises^ from Barrancas^ by way of the several mouths^
a region of about 6000 square miles : being about 100 miles north
and souths by 60 east and west.

There are eleven mouths to this grand river^ viz. : the ^' Boca de
Navios;" Boca de Lauran; the Bocade Nuina, twoor three leagues
west of the Isla Cangrejos, is from 12 to 18 feet deep ; Soca Chica
de Mariusas five leagues farther ; Boca de Yinquinia ; Boca Grande
de Mariusas is very navigaible ; Boca de Macareo (the canno of this
name admits large vessels as far as San Rafael^ where it issues
from the principal trunk) ; Boca de Cuciuna, narrower but deeper ;
Boca de Pedernales^ navigable; Boca de Manamo -Grande, near
the islands of Plata and Pesquero ; Boca de Guanipa. After the
Boca de Navios^ which mariners recognise by the Punta Barin^a;
the Bocas de Mariusas, Macareo, Perdemales, and Manamo Grande^
are most useful for navigation.

That part of the delta, which extends to the west of the Boca de
Macareo, is bathed by the waters of the Gulf of Paria, or Oolfo
Triste. This basin is formed by the eastern coast of the province
of Cumana, and the western coast of the island of Trimdad ; it
communicates with the Caribbean Sea by the famous mouths of the
Dragon {Bocas de Dragos), The Orinoco, like the Amazon, the
Nile, and all the rivers that separate into several branches, is less
wide at the mouth than might be supposed from the lengtli of its
course, and the breadth it preserves some 300 miles inland. The
flux and reflux of the tide are felt in the month of April, when the
river is lowest, beyond Angostura, or Ciudad Bolivar, at a distance
of more than 800 miles inland. At the confluence of the Caroni^
240 miles from the coast, the water rises 1 foot 3 inches. These
oscillations of the sur&ce of the river, this suspension of its course^
must not be confounded with a tide that flows up. At the great
mouth of the Orinoco, near Cape Barima, the tide rises to a
height of 2 or 3 feet; but farther on toward the north-west, in the
Golfo Triste, between the Boca de Pedemales, the Rio Guaripiche,
and the western coast of Trinidad, the tide rises 7, 8, and even 10

feet, caused by the influence of the configuration of the coast, and
of the obstacles which the months of the Dragon present to the
running off of the waters on points 30 or 40 leagues distant from
«ach other.

The navigation of the river, whether vessels arrive by the great
channel of the Boca de Navios, or risk entering the labyrinth of
the Bocas Chicas (small mouths), requires various precautions,
according as the oed is fully or the waters very low. The
regularity of these periodical risings of the Orinoco has been long
an object of admiration ito travellers, just as the overflowings of the
Nile fiimished the philosophers of antiquity with a problem
difficult to solve. The Orinoco and the Nile, contrary to tibe
direction of the Ganges, the Indus, the Eio tie la Plata, and the
Euphrates, flow alike ^from the south towards the north ; but the
sources of the Orinoco are five or six degrees nearer the equator,
than those of the Nile. Great rivers unite their waters, which
covers a surface of several thousands of square leagues in one
receptacle. However unequal may be the quantity of rain that fells
during several successive years, in such or such a valley, the
swellings of rivers that have a long course, are little affected by
these local variations!

" The swellings represent the mean stcUe of the humidity, that
Teisms in the whole basin: they follow annually the same
progression, because their conWencemeBt and thirir duration
depends also on the intervals of the periods, apparently extremely
variable, of the beginning and end of the rains in the different
latitudes through which the principal trunk and its various
tributary streams flow. Hence it rollows, that the periodical
oscillations of rivers are, like the equality of temperature of
caverns and springs, a sensible indication o^ the regular distribu-
tion of humimly and heat, which takes place 'from year to year
on a considerable extent of land."

^*They strike the imagination of the vulgar, as order every-
where astonishes, when we cannot eflsily ascend to first causes,
just as the intervals of temperature of a long succession of
months or years surprise those who see for the first time a
treatise"on climate. Eivers that belong entirely to the torrid zone,
display, in their periodical movements, that wonderful regularity,
which is peculiar to a region where the same wind brings almost
always a stratum of air of the same temperature; and where the
change of the sun in its declination, causes every year, at the same
period, a rupture of equilibrium in the electric intensitv, in the
cessation of the breezes, and at the commencement of tne season
of rains."

The Orinoco^ the Bio Magdalena, and the Congo or Zaire^
are the only great rivers of the equatorial region of the globe,
which^ rising near the equator^ have their mouths in a much
higher latitude^ though still within the tropics. The cause of the
periodical swellings of the Orinoco acts equally on all the rivers
that take their rise in the torrid zone. Aner the vernal equinox,,
the cessation of the breezes announces the season of rains. The
increase of the rivers, which may be considered as natural
amhrometersy is in proportion to the quantity of water that &lls
in the different regions. The following is the usual progress or
the oscillations of the Orinoco. Immediately afi;er the vernal
equinox (the people say on the 25th March), the commencement
of the rising is perceived. It is at first only an inch in twenty-
£mr hours ; sometimes the river again sinks in April ; it attains
its maximum in July; remains ftdl (at the same level) from the
end of July till the 25th of August; and then decreases pro-
gressively, but more slowly than it increased. It is at its^
minJTnuTn in January and February. Next to the Amazon there
is no river, which, from the forests through which it flows, can
furnish more valuable timber for ship building. This timber
affords all the desirable varieties of density, specific gravitv, and
more or less resinous qualities. The grant of land, made by the
United States of Venezuela to Dr. Henry M. Price, and his
Associates, comprises all vacant lands which may be found in the
State of Onayana and the District of Amazonas in Venezuela, about
240,000 square miles. The grant says, ^^ alt vacant lands,^^ and
there is but very little but what is vacant, the number of in-
habitants being about two to the square league. The grant
commences on the north line that marks the sSi degree of north
latiti^de, as &r as the town of Santa Cruz ; following from this
point the north bank of the Orinoco, as feur as the mouth of the
river Meta, it then follows the same bank of the river Meta to
where it touches New Granada, and thence the eastern side of the
boundary line that divides Venezuela firom New Granada ; on the
south the boundary line of Venezuela and the Empire of Brazil,
and on the west the firontier between Venezuela and English
Guiana, and finalhr the Atlantic Ocean. It is marked on the
map as the State of Guayana, and comprises nearly all the territory
enclosed by the Orinoco river on the north and west, and by the
boimdary unes of Brazil and British Guiana on the south and
.east.

The Venezuela Government grants to the emigrant* the rights
and pri^eges of citizenship on landing, with exemption fiom
military duty and all taxes from five to ten years, and the*

priTilege of exporting and importing^ &ee of dnty, for the use of
the colonists for the same length of time. The natives are liberal
and hospitable to foreigners. All religions are allowed by the
constitution. By the grant^ all emigrants will at once enjoy the
some political^ civil^ and social rights. They will have idl tha
roads open, to political position^ no matter what it may be^ except
the Presidency of the BepuUic — that only the natives^ or your
children bom there^ can hold. The section of the country idiere
the ^^ Grant " has been made, is benefitted by all the advanti^es
that nature could bestow^ or a colony could desire.

Venezuelan Guayana exceeds in area the States of Maryland^
Virginia. North and South Carolina^ and Georgia^ in the United
States of North America. More than nine-tenths of this province
is uncultivated^ and almost uninhabited. *

Guayana offers the emigrant a choice of various climates, the
tropical heat of the coast, the moderate temperature of the taUe
lands, or the frosty air of the mountain peaks, that divide Guayana
from English Guiana and Brazil. The land rises in successive
plateaus mm the flat margin of the Orinoco to the summits of the
opposite boundary line. A locality of semi-mountainous heights
in a tropical latitude has the most desirable climate on the earth.
The soil of Guayana produces caoutchouc or India rubber, coffee,
rice — ^it is the native home of chocolate; it grows cotton of
various colors, according to the nature of the soil; sugar-cane,
tobacco, Irish potatoes, sweet potatoes, the bread mdt tree, the
milk tree, or Falo de Vaca, European cereals, together with maize
or Indian com, peaches, quinces, apples, almonds, oranges, lemons,
figs, cocoa-nuts, pine apples, bananas of the various kinds, straw-
berries, water melons, yams, arrowroot, and a great number of
farinaceous roots unknown in Europe, such as capaichos, lairens,
and yuca, of which the natives ma!ke a nutritious and delicious
bread.

In its fine finrests, are the mahogany, black and white ebony,
cedar, and the copal (xees. For dyeing, there are the BraziliaxL
mulberry and the dragon trees ; for rope-making, the manillas,
&gua, and the chigni-chiffni palm, of which Humbolt says, ^^This
cordage is extremely lignt; it floats upon the water, and is more
durable in the navigation of rivers than are those ropes which are
made of hemp." There grows spontaneously Peruvian bark,
sarsaparilla, the castor oil bean, the vanilla bean, copaiba, guaco,
tacamahaca, quassia, and goma. For the manufacture of oil there
are, besides many other plants, the yagua, fuvia, almond, and cocoa-
nut. For tanning there are the dividivi and the white mangel. The
sldns of deer as well as cattle afford a thriving business and might

bd exported in flreat quantities. Owners of cattle often kill them
for the sake of uieir hides only^ and either give away the meat or
throw it into the riyer. The forests also contain valuable woods
for ship building. Food is in such profusion^ that half of it
remains ungathered. The forests abound in the feathered tribe
and game^ and the rivers are full of wild fowl and fish. The
country is well watered. The rivers are the Orinoco^ Caroni,
Caura^ Padamo^ Yentuari^ Meta^ Paraguay Arui^ Erevato,
Guchivero^ Paruasi^ Apure^ Arauca^ Oataniapo^ Tomo^ Yichada,
Zama^ Guaviare^ Inirida^ Atabapo^ ' Guayana^ Tani^ Pimichin,
Gassiquiari, Rio Negro^ &c.

The principal rivers are the Orinoco, Guaviare, Ventuari, Meta,
Caura Gassiquiari, Caroni, and Rio Ne^o.

The Orinoco has already been descrioed.

The Guaviare is the largest river that flows into the Orinoco,
and is navigable for about 500 miles.

The Apure is navigable for about 500 miles.

The Kio Negro, if compared to the Amazon, the Rio de la
Plata, or the Orinoco, is but a river of the second order. Its pos-
session has been for ages of great political importance to the Spanish
Oovernnent, because it might have furnished a rival power, Por-
tugal, with an easy road of introduction into the missions of
Guayana, and disturbing the Cafitania Oenercd of Garaccas in it
southern limits.

This great river is about 800 miles long, and flows into the
Amazon river. The upper part of its course belongs to the Vene-
zuelans, while the lower belongs to the Portuguese. It is a wide and
deep river, and die colour of we water is da^. The water is of an
amber colour, wherever it is shallow, and of a dark brown, like
coffee-grounds, wherever the depth of the water is considerable.
The junction of the Rio Negro with the Amazon, is considered of
such importance in the government of Orcmd Para, that the Bio
. das Amazanas loses its name west of the Rio Negro, and takes that
of the Rio das Solimoes,

The Gassiquiari is as broad as the Rhine, the course of which is
180 nules in length. It connects the Rio Negro with the Orinoco^
and forms a natural canal between these rivers. Humbolt says,
'^ I have been often asked since my return from the Orinoco,
whether I were inclined to believe that the channel of the Gassi-
quiari would be choked up by successive accumulations of earth ;
and whether I did not think that the two greatest systems of rivers
in equatorial America would, in the lapse of ages, become entirely
distinct? Having prescribed to myself the law of describing &cts
only, I shall first observe, that the Gassiquiari in the greater part

of its course has the excessive velocity of six or eight feet in a
second. It is not therefore to be feared^ that it will entirely fill up
a bed of several hundred feet in breadth. The existence of
this branch of the Orinoco is too great a phenomena for the little
changes that we observe on the surface of the globe^ to make
it disappear, or even to modify it considerably." When travellers
had recognized the mode of commimication between the Orinoco
and the Amazon, the possibility of the fact was still repeatedly
called in question. The river Amazon having been frequented by
the Portuguese and the Spaniards, long before the Tipper Orinoco
was known to these rival nations, the first vague ideas of the com-
munication between these two rivers came to Europe from the
mouth of the Rio Negro. It will no longer form in vain a navi-
gable canal between two basins of rivers, which have a surface of
570,000 square miles. For the grain of New Granada will be
carried to the banks of the Sio Negro; boats will descend from-
the sources of the Napo and the Ucuyabe, from the Andes of Quito
and of Upper Peru, to the mouths of the Orinoco. A country,
nine or ten times larger than Spain, and enriched with the most
varied productions, is navigable in every direction by the medium
of this natural canal of the Cassiquiari, and the bifru*cation of the
rivers.

The river Padamo or Patamo, is of considerable breadth. The
natives arrive in a day and a half at the Bio Mavaca, which rises
in the lofty mountains of Unturan.

The Rio Ventuari next to the Guaviare is the most considerable
tributary stream of the Orinoco. The Rio ManipiUre, one of the
principal branches of the Ventuari, approaches near its source, a
range of lofty mountains. The upper course of the Rio Ventuari,
beyond the confluence of the Asisi and the Great RavdaleSy is
almost imknown. The tributary streams of the Caroni, the Caura,
and the Ventuari proximate very closely to each other. The Rio
Cuyuni, the Paragua, and the tributary streams of the Caura (the
Ghavarra and the Erevati), flow more or less in the direction of
the latitude; so that with the exception of a few portages, there is
a navigation from east to west, going from Essequibo and Demerara
for a distance of about 420 miles in the latitude of 6° and 7^.
This navigation is performed in the interior, parallel to the course
of the Lpwer Orinoco, and continues from 9U to 120 miles from
that great river to the south.

The Caroni river is formed, by the union of two branches of
almost equal magnitude, which are the Caroni, properly so called^
smd the Kio Paragua. The Caroni is navigi^ble lor about 500 miles.
Next to the Guaviare, the Meta is the most considerable river that

4ow8 into the Orinoco. It may be compared to Uie Danube, not
for the length of its course^ but for the volume of its waters. Its
mean dqpthis 36 feet, and it reaches in some places as far as 84 feet.
The Rio Meta, which traverses the. vast plains of Casanare, and
which is navigable as far as the foot of the Andes of New
Granada. From the Golfo Tristo and the month of the Dragon^
a small fleet may go np the Orinoco and the Meta to within
'60 miles of Santo Fe de Bogoto^ in New Granada.

The Gaura river is a fine wide navigable stream, and is
navigable for about 210 Iniles. It abounds in timber suitoble for
ship building and other purposes, and copaiba and other drugs of
value.

By the Apure, Meta, and the Lower Orinoco we can navigate
from east to west, and from south to north by the Rio Ne^ro, tibe
Gassiquiari, ibe Upper and Lower Orinoco ; these form me two
great navigable lines. By the first of these lines the productions
of the province of Varinas flow towards Angostura, by the
Portuguesa, Masparra, the Rio Santo Domingo, and the Orivanto
Rivers; the productions of the provinces of Los Llanos, and the
table lands of Boeota, by the Rio Gasanare, the Grabo, and tiie
Paohaquiaro. The second line of navigation, founded on the
bifurcation of the Orinoco, leads to the most southern extremity of
•Golumbia to San Garlos del Rio Negro, and the Amazon.

The cities and towns of Guayana, are Angostura or Giudad
Bolivar, Barcelonetta, Borbon, New Garoni, Alta Gracia, Caycara,
Santa Barbara, and Las Tablas.

The city of Angostura, or as it is now called, Giudad Bolivar
contains the residence of the Grovemor of Guayana, Senor John B.
de la Gosta, ^^ is a flourishiog city and port. It is situate near the
8th degree north latitude, and 64th degree west longitude,
300 miles from the i^ea. It stands at the foot of a hill composed
of homblendschiefer." The streets are regular and parallef with
the course of the river. The houses of Angostura are lofty and
built of stone, which proves that no earthquakes have visited the
bed of the Orinoco. The scenery around the citv of Angostura
varies little, but the view of the river Orinoco, which forms a great
canal stretehing from the south west to the north east, is singiuarly
majestic. The fertile banks of the Orinoco below the mouth of
the river Garoni, yield an immense quantity of squashes, plantains,
papaws, and yams. The two latter fruits are often eaten raw,
in which stete they are not healthy.

The population of Angostura is about 15,000, and trade is
extremely active from its rich surrounding provinces. The natives
oome there witli their mules, cacao, indigo, cotton, and sugar, and
in return take back cargoes of European manufactures.

Many launche* cargoes are estimated at 10^000 piastres or
£2000 sterling; Angostura is 3° 62" south longitude from the
mouth of the Orinoco.

The exiled Southerners haVe been received at this city by the
'Governor with every mark of welcome and respect.

The site selected for our city of Nbw Garoni^ and seat of learn-
ing^ cathedral^ library, and future university, is situate a few miles
below the ruins of Old Garoni city, on the Caroni river^ above the
&lls, which break through a gap in the mountains that lie along
the Orinoco, and thus rorm a continuous line of most beautiM
waterfedls. These, though far short of Niagara and Montmorenci in
grandeur, are certainly almost as remarkable, and will in the future
afford great water power.

The town of Las Tablas is about 200 miles from the mouth of
the Orinoco, and situate on the left bank of that river, within hear-
ing of the continual roar of the falls of the Cjux)m. It is the site
firet chosen as the nucleus arotmd which to gather the bone and
sinew of emigration, and at the same time intended as the future
emporium of wealth, and the busy mart into whose lap will flow the
.gold from the mines of Garatel, the vegetable commodities of the
interior, and the accumulated heap of marketable produce gathered
along the two rivers for many miles above.

Barcelonetta is situate on the Paragua river, near the junction
of that stream with the Caroni river. Another colony has located
near this mission.

BoRBON is situate on the Orinoco river, about 80 miles above
Angostura. The population is about 800.

Alta Gracia is situate on the Orinoco above the town of Bor-
bon. The population is about 850.

Gayacara is situate on the Orinoco above Alta Giada. Popu-
lation is about 700.

Santa Barbara is situate near the junction of the rivers
Guaviare and Orinoco. Population about 900.

The lAuache is a large native 'l)oat

ASPECT OF THE COUNTRY AND THE CARRIBBEAlS^

SEA.

The immense progress in the art o^ navigation^ aided by
steam-power^ seems to have narrowed the basin of the seas,
and the proverbial tranquillity of the Carribbean Sea^ where the
hurricanes of the West Indies are never felt^ where tiie coasting^
mariner seldom reefi or takes in a sail^ seem inducements sufficient
to render a voyage to Venezuela a pleasant and safe journey. The
beauty of its shores^ clolihed with fine timber^ suitable for ship-
building; their towering trunks looming out against a clear blue
sky^ form a refireshing termination to a voyage across the ocean.
Those virgin forests near the sea^ in the eastern part of Venezuela,
present vduable resources for the establishment oi dock-yards. The
ship timber of that coiintry may vie with that of Cuba, Guayaquil,
and San Bias. From the nature of the tropical woods, they pos-
sess the advantage of hardness and amazing durabUity. The
united provinces of Venezuela form three distinct zones ; first the
cultivated shores of the Orinoco, and the aral)le land lying between
the shore and the first chain of mountains ; next the Savannas or
pasture land within the circle of the Orinoco ; and finally beyond
this great river is a third zone, covered with forests, only penetrable
by means of the rivers that traverse them.

When a traveller newly arrived irom Europe, penetrates for
the first time into the interior ot South America, nature presents
an unexpected aspect. The objects that surround him recall but
feebly those pictures which celebrated writers have traced on the
Mississippi or Florida in the United States. He feels at every
step that he is not on the confines, but in the centre of the torrid
zone ; not on an island, but on a vast continent, where everything
is gigantic, the mountains, the rivers, and the mass of vegetation
that greet his eye, make him feel strongly the beauty of picturesque
scenery, he can scarcely define the various emotions which crowd
upon his mind : he can scarcely distinguish what most excites his
admiration, the deep silence of those solitudes, the individual beauty
and contrast of forms, or that vigour and freshness of vegetable
life, which characterises the climate of the tropics. The trunks of
the trees are everywhere concealed under a thick drapery of verdure.
By this singular assemblage, the forests, as well as the flanks of
the rocks and mountains enlarge the domains of organic nature.
The same flowering vines that clothe the trunks, reach the tops of
the treeS; and pass from one to the other at the height of 100 feet^

forming a leafy and fiugiferous bower. You may walk for hours
under the shade of these arcades^ that entirely protect you from
the sun^ and where a glimpse of sky appears^ it shows a deep indigo
blue in contrast to the mtense green of the equatorial plants.
Splendid fern trees rise now and then above the masses of scattered
rocks. In these walks you will be struck^ for the first time^ with
the sight of those birds' nests^ in the shape of bottles^ or perhaps
small pockets^ which are suspended from the branches of the lowest
trees^ and attest the admirable industry of the golden Orioles^ that
mingle their sweet warblings with the cries of the bright plumed
parrots and stately macaws. These last, so well- known for their
vivid colours, fly only in pairs, while the real parrots wander about
in flocks of several hundreds.

You will leave such a forest with reluctance, where the bazil
plants, the fine flowers of the costus, the thalia, and the heliconia,
grow from eight to ten feet high, which in Europe would constitute
.a little wood. You will see the graceful Jagua trees bending
towards the banks of the rivulets and streams, and waving with the
slightest breath of air; roads skirted with bamboo of the last
description, which nothing can equal in elegance of form or motion,
will powerfrilly strike the imagination of the traveller. The
palm, fern, and bamboo are particularly tropical, and seldom seen
in all their beauty save in equatorial regions. Numberless springs
gush from the rocks of resplendent whiteness, which peep out
here and there from among the foliage. It is difficult to find such
picturesque scenery as this region presents. It will recall forcibly
to the English traveller the remembrance of some of those lovely
valleys in Derbyshire. Plantain and papaw trees, mingled with
ferns, surround those springs where humidity encourages the growth
of lajrge trees. These springs can be traced at a great distance, like
streams of silver running down the mountains from the crevices in
the rocks, tufted in their course by masses of vegetation, which
sometimes seem suspended from the rocks above, and in descending
down the valley, they follow the sinuosities of the torrents. Ex-
perience has proved that, the elevation of the Garib country,
through which the Caroni river flows, from its pure temperature
and rarified air it is singularly favorable to the cultiure of coiFee.
You may meet plantations oi 5000 coffee trees promising the finest
harvest, together with Indian maize, sugar-cane, and European
cereals and domestic vegetables on such sites.

These cultivated spots are the missions where the minister
resides among the Indians. Their ministrations have civilized
nearly all the Indians in that country. A mission and its commu-
nity present the appearance of an extensive garden finely cultivated.

The natiyes are treaited with great kindneBS. The missions appear
to be goveraed bj a perfect sjstem of order and discipline; the
miflsionarj sells the produce of the settlement; and as all the
Indians are employed in its onltivationy all have an equal dbare in
the gain, besides maize, clothes, tools, and sometimes money are
distributed among the outside Indians. These institutions resemUe
Moravian Missions in the United States ; they have been, and are
of great advantage in the rise and progress of civilisation and
religion among the uncultivated tribes of South America; another
thing that gives celebrity to tiie valley of the Garoni, beside the
extraordinary coolness of the climate, is the great cavern of the
Guacharo. . ^^ This cavern gives birth to a river, and is situate three
leagues S. W. from the mission, the natives call it ^ The mine of
Jut J " This cavern is inhabited by thousands of nocturnal birds,
and is found at the foot of the lofty mountains of Guacharo. At
400 steps from the cavern you will not perceive the entrance ; you
see the torrent running through a crevice, which has been hollowed
out by the river. You then pass under an overhanging cornice of
rock, the projection of which prevents you from seeing the sky.
The path winds like the river ; at the last turning you come sud-
denly before the immense opening of the grotto, the aspect of this
spot is majestic even to the eye of a traveller accustomed to the
picturesque scenery of the higher Alps. The striking feature, at the
enti*ance^of this cavern, is the splendour of the equatorial vege-
tation, which here assumes an tTidtmdual character. The entrance
is toward the south, and forms a vault 80 feet broad and 72 feet
high. The rock that surmounts this grotto, is covered with trees
of gigantic height. The giant Mammee tree, and the genipa
with its large and shining leaves, raise their branches vertically
toward the sky. Then the flowering vines form the lower verdure
which extends itself over the vault or arch, and festoons the
entrance or opening of this cavern. The flowers are of magnificent
shades, violet, gold coloured dotted with black, rich purple festoons
of solandra with its orange-coloured tube 4 inches long. The en-
trances of grottoes, like the views of cascades, derive their principal
charm from the situation, more or less majestic, in which tney are
placed, and which in some sort determines the character of the
landscape. Those who have visited both, will mark the con-
trast between the Cuva of Garipe, ^nd those caverns of Northern
climes crowned with oaks and gloomy larch trees. This verdant
foliage decorates the vestibule of the cavern, as well as its outside,
and continues until daylight is half excluded, and does not disappear
until 40 paces from the entrance. You will have need to light
torches at 430 feet from the entrance ; when the daylight fails,

you will hear from afar the hoarse sound of nocturnal birds.
The Guacharo is of the size of barn-door fowls : it has a crooked
beak^ which is surrounded by stiff silky hair ; in shape it is like our
swallow. It feeds at night, and is remarkable for its wide mouthy
it lives upon cockchafers, beetles, fire-flies, and hard fruits, and
its note resembles the whirr of a spinning* wheel. Its plumage is
a dark bluish grey, streaked and speckled with black, large white
spots the shape of a heart, and bordered with black which mark
the head, the wings^ and tail. The eye of this bird is small, the
spread of the wings, which are composed of eighteen quill feathers,
is three feet and a half. The Guacharo quits the cavern at nightfall,
especially when the moon shines. It is the only nocturnal insect and
fruit feeding bird known. Their shrill cry strikes upon the vault
of the cave, and is repeated by echo in the depths of the cavern.
The nests of these birds are funnel shaped, and are stuck in holes 60
feet above your head ; the roof of the grotto is pierced like a sieve.
The Indians enter into this cave once a year, near Midsummer,
armed with poles, by means of which they destroy the greater part
of the nests, and kill several thous^ds of the birds, the old ones
holering over their heads in order to defend their young, which
fall to the ground, and are opened by other Indians on the spot ;
the peritoneum is loaded with fat like a cushion. The darkness
and repose is favourable to this production. The nocturnal birds
of Europe are lean, because they live on insects alone. At this
bird-hunting season the Indians build, huts of palm leaves, near the
entrance of the cave, and there stay until the oil harvest is over.
The Indians melt the fat in earthen pots over fires built on the
spot. This fat is half liquid and transparent and without smell.
It is called hutter oil, and is so pure that it will keep more than a
year without becoming rancid. The first pouring is used as butter,
and to light the Church lamps of the mission, the second for
kitchen purposes. The first oil is kept in stone bottles, the less
transparent in large earthen vessels. The race of these birds
would long ago have been extinct, had not several circumstances
contributed to its preservation. The natives have a superstition
^^ that those old birds are the spirits of their ancestors,'* and they
will not penetrate far into this cavern ; it appears also, that birds
of the same species dwell in neighbouring caverns which are
inaccessible to man, and perhaps the great cavern is repeopled by
colonies that abandon the smaller grottoes ; for the Missionaries
assert that there is no sensible diminution of the birds. In
pyrsuing your search in this cavern you walk on a ledge road as
far as the elevation, through a straight passage 1440 feet long, with
a small river thirty feet wide, flowing through this cavern, where

c 2

the torrent winds, among^ very fine masses of stalactites ; here the
soil rises abruptly at an inclination of 60% where this torrent
forms a small subterraneous cascade^ similar to one on a larger
scale in Yorder's caye, near Kingsdale, in Yorkshire, England,
At this point where the river forms this subterraneous cascade is a
hill, covered with vegetation, caused by the dropping of the seed
upon which the old birds feed their young. The blanched stalks
with half formed leaves spring up from this rich mould surrounding
this cascade. The form, colour, and aspect of these plants are
changed by the absence of light.

This cavern was once penetrated by a Bishop of St. Thomas,
British Guiana, to the measured distance of 2500 feet from the
mouth to the spot where he stopped, although the cavern reaches
much farther. The Bishop used pure wax torches, which are far
better in subterranean researches than the torches of the natives,
that are composed of the bark of trees and native resin, which
emit a thick smoke in a narrow subterranean passage, hurtful to
the eyes and obstructive to respiration. '^ A beautifril scene presents
itself on retracing your steps : it is like a lovely picture in the
distance, to which the mouth of the cavern serves as a frame. Yon
see before yoii the river sparkling on amid the bright foliage
of the trees, bright winged oirds greet you on your entering into
sunlight again, where you find that peaceful charm of silence and
tranquillity." The name of this bird (the Guacharo) was xmknown
in Europe until Baron Von Humboldt's visit to Yenezuela in
1800. These nocturnal birds have nowhere been discovered, ex-
cept in the mountains of Garipe and that country which is wtftered
by the sources of the Garoni river, although some of those birds
are said by the natives to have been seen in Gamanacoa."

Baron Von Humboldt and recent travellers say : — " That hos-
pitality in the Spanish colonies is such, that an European who
arrives without recommendation or pecuniary means is almost sure
of finding assistance if he lands in any port on account of sickness.
I have seen the most affecting instances of attentions rendered to
unknown persons during whole years, and always without a
murmur. It has been said that hospitality was easy to be exercised
in a happy climate, where food is in plenty, where the native
plants yield salutary remedies, and where the sick man, reposing
in his hammock, finds under a shed all the shelter of which he
stands in need. But should we consider as of little value the em-
barraEsment caused in a family by the arrival of a stranger whose
chai'acter is unknown ? Gan we be permitted to forget those marks
of tender compassion, those endearing attentions of the female part
of the household, that un tired patience which never relaxes during
a long and painfiil recovery ? "

It has been remarked that, with the exception of a few very
]X>piilou8 towns, hospitalitj has not yet perceptibly diminished
since the first establishment of the Spanish colonies in the New
World. The numerous communications with commercial Europe
by the Caribbean Sea—like an American Mediterranean with its
many dutlets — ^have had a powerful influence over the provinces of
Venezuela. Civilization has in no other part of Spanish America
assumed a more European physiognomy ; society does not present
very animated or varied pleasures; but that feeling of hospitable
comfort is experienced in domestic life, which leads to uniform
cheer&lness and cordiality, united with that urbane politeness of
manner so characteristic of the ancient Spanish settler. There
exists in Venezuela two distinct kinds of r^obility^ or, one might
say, two generations: one preserves a strong attachment for
ancient customs, simplicity of manners, and moderation in desires,
which lives only in the images of ihe past. South America
appears to them a property conquered by their ancestors. ' Of this
class or race but few remain : and they carefully preserve here-
ditary prejudices as a part of their patrimony, and possess all that
is excellent in the character of the Spaniard. The other class, less
occupied even by the present than the future, has a propensity for
new habits and ideas. When this tendency is allied to the love of
solid instruction and science, guided by reason, its effects become
highly beneficial to society ; and this class may acquire, fi*om their
connection with an An^Io-Saxon race, ideas capable of forming a real
basis of happiness and social order. The first class spoken of is
composed of^ Spanish Creoles, whose ancestors were among the
warriors who fought with Cortes, Losada, and Pizarro : these claim
to belong to the most distinguished Spanish families. Aristocracy
in the Spanish provinces has another counterpoise^ of which
the action becomes every day more apparent and powerfiil. This
^counterpoise is the white shin which is tne real badge of I^obility ;
and, since the emancipation of the slaves, the white race cultivate
a sentiment of equality which seems to have penetrated every
bosom. It is their proud boast to never have reckoned among their
ancestors any but freemen^ and they found their Nobility on here-
ditary liberty. Ev^y Biscayan calls himself noble ; and to their
credit be it said, they have in no small degree contributed to propa-

fate in the colonies that system of equality among all men whose
lood has not been contaminated by the Afincan race. At the
present time no slavery exists in Venezuela.

The capacity of the country for production cannot be measured
by its present status, for the fertility of the soil is incredible.
The firuits and flowers of all the seasons are visible at the same

time ; and while some herbs of the field are fadings others of the
same kind are springing np ; while some flowers lose their beauty,
others blow; when the fruits of the trees have attained their
maturity^ and the leaves begin to change their colour^ fresh leaves^
blossoms, and fruits are seen in their proper gradations in size and
ripeness on the same tree. The same incessant fertihty is con-
spicuous in the corn, both reaping and sowing being carried on
at the same time : so that the decUvities of the neighbouring hills
exhibit all the beauties of the four seasons in one assemblage.
Though all this is generally seen, yet there is a settled time for
the grand harvest; sometimes the most &Tourable season for
sowing in one place is a month or two afler that of another, while
their distance does not exceed three or four leagues. With aa
increased population (this country would easily support one hundred
fold its present number of inhabitants), with the introduction of
new arts, and modern machinery requisite to develope the rich
resources of its prolific soil, its mines and materials for manu&cture,
and with a commensurate extension of its lines of intercommunica-^
tion by means of the railway and steamboat, Venezuela might be
made one of the most productive and wealthy countries of the
world. For the purpose of commerce, its geographical position ia
unsurpassed, and the rivers reaching trom the sea to the Andes,
open to the world the riches of one third part of a Continent.

The salubrity of the climate has been tested by Dr. Hancock
during a long practice in those latitudes. He says — ^^ The climate
of Guayana is free from those alternations of heat and cold, and
those chilly pi^rcinff winds witii a hot sun so common to the West
Indian Islands. Tubercular consumption is unknown on the
Spanish Main, or coast of Guayana. Many who arrived there with
this complaint from Europe and the Northern part (tf America have
perfectly recovered.'^ And the Doctor assures us that, during his
long practice on that coast he never met with an instance of con-
sumption, nor a single case of calculus generated there. And for this
simple reason, he continues, that however favourable a sea breeze
may be in the day in the West India Islands, it is always suc-
oeeded at night by a chilling night wind blowing from the central
part of the island towards me sea, which are not favourable for
invalids.

A Uving author and traveller speaks thus of British Guiana,
which equntry forms the eastern boundary of ^^Ths Price
Grant" :—

^ Whsn I settle out of England^ and take to the eoJomes, British

Guiana shall he the land of my adoption* At home I know there are

preftsdices against it. There never leas a land so abused, and never

&ne that deserved it so Uttle. AU the eakmnies I now contradict; as
lUved therefor a fortnight — would it had heen^ a month ! — / expect
to he helmed. If there were hut a snug secretaryshw vacant tlterCy'-^
for these things in that land are very snug — how I would invoke the
goddess of patronage ; how I would nihhle round the officials qf the
Colonial Office ; houklwould stir up my friend^ s friends to write Uttle
notes to their friends / For British Guiana is the Elysium of the
tropics — the West Indian happy valley of Bmselas'^the one true
Utopia of the Carrihhean Sea— the transatlantic Eden! The men
there are never angry, and the women never cross. Life flows along on
a perpetual stream of love, smiles, champagne, and small talk, JSvery-
lody has enough of everything. The only persons who do not thrive
are the doctors, and for them, as the country finds them so little to do^
the heal government no doubt provides liberal pensions, — From thif
West Indies and Spanish Main of Anthoxy Trollofe^ Esq.
Fifth Edition, 1862.

THE STATE OF COMMERCIAL AND COLONIAL

INTERCOURSE.

On the first founding of a colony in a semi-popolated ooontr^^
the first thing to be thought of is the division of labour. This
labour produces commodities^ and then barter is commenced.
Those having a surplus of one article are in want of some other
commodity when naturally the colonists exchange the one for the
other; at each possessor's viduation. Tlus is the first feature of
commerce that presents itself to early settlers. It is^ however,
obvious that the power of exchanging, and consequently of
dividing employments, must be subject to perpetual interruptions,
so long as commercial intercourse is restricted to more barter.
The Anglo-Saxon race now peopling the munificent '' Grant " of
240,000 square miles of land to Dr. Henry M. Price of Virginia
U. S. of Ainerica, by the Cabinet of Venezuela, for the benefit of
the oppressed Southeners, as well as all who may wish a landed
estate mfee for them and their children, at the low price of 3s. dd.
(78 cents.) per acre^ will have, besides barter^ free imports and
exports, for their own benefit, for Jive years, or ten if desired.
The inconvenience of such barter soon taught om* forefathers the
importance of a foreign commercial exchange; for the raw
materia], that of manufactured goods; hence the first efibrts made
by the colonists should be for a standard of coin, of nionied value, as
nearly as possible equivalent to JSngtish mcmeyy so that they
can exchange either tne whole or part of their surplus produce for
a commodity of known value, which, being in geneial demand,
persons would be inclined to accept as an equivalent for whatever
they had to dispose of. Though at first colonial currency circulates
slowly, and sometimes with difficulty, it would and will, as the
advantages arising from its use becomes better appreciated, at
length pass freely from hand to hand. Its value as compared with
other things, would thus come to be generally known, and not
many years would elapse bdbre it would be used as the conmion
equivalent for all things, to all nations, as a standard by which to
measure their value. The commodity of exchange common to
civilized nations is coined money. It possesses among other ad-
vantages the following : —

First. — ^This commodity is divisable into the smallest portions.

Second. — It does not deteriorate by being kept

Tlurd. — ^It contains great Value in a small bulk, and easily admits
of transportation.

Fourth.— Tke one [Hfioe of money, of a certain wdgH may
ahoayg be equal in magnitude and qiudity j^o every other piece of
money of the same weight.

fmh. — Its value is steady, or little subject to variation by
the union of the different qualities of comparative steadiness of
value. The divisibility, durability, facility of transportation, and
perfect sameness of the preciauB metdlsy has doubtless made every
civilized community employ them as money.

The value of gold changes slowly. It is divisible into any
number of parts, and can easily be reunited by fusion, its firmness
and compactness prevent wear. The cost of its production makes
it valuable in a smidl bulk, hence it can be transported with
&cility. An ounce of gold dug from the mines of Guayana is
precisely equal, in point of value and quality, to any ounce of gold
dug from any other mines of the world. No wonder, then, that
the precious metals have been used from a remote period by
civilized societies. As moneys they became universal, not by
arbitrary agreement, but by the natiure and force of things. The
fiibrication of coins, and the practice of a public stamps indicating
their weight and purity, belongs to the remotest antiquity.
Moneyy however, is not mere^ the universal equivalent or
^^ Marchandise lannalSf^ used by society; but it is also the
standard used to compare the value of all sorts of products, and
the stipulations of contracts and deeds, as to the safe delivery and
disposal of property, and the safety for the fulfilment of contracts.
It is, therefore, of the utmost importance that the money standard
value should be as invariable as possible. The establishment of a
Bank, when a colony is settled, and its money decided on of a
fixed value, is of paramount importance. A banker, on being applied
to for & loan, does not make the advance in gold or silver, but in
his own notes ; and while these serve the borrower equally as well
as specie, the issuer derives the same rate of interest from them as
he would have derived from an advance of money y his profits,
consisting of the excess of interest derived from the notes he has
issued, over the interest of the money or unproductive stock he is
obliged to keep in his coffers to meet the demands of the public,
for payment of his notes and the expenses of his establishment.
By this means the colonist is saved the anxiety of keeping his
money at home, he also avoids the risk of receiving coins or notes
that are not genuine (as a banker can at once determine their
genuineness); but the greatest advantages of a bank to a colony
is in a commercial point of view ; it facilitates the possibility for
making pigments, in safety, at any distance, and for negotiation
of bills of exchange. With a bank, a colonist residing in any

part of the ^' GranV who jDay.vdsh to. make a payment in ,

or to any ifidividual in j^sgland, or any other conntry, will
pay the money to the banker at Caroni, or any other town where
the bank may be. estaUiahed; and his creditor will receive the
money from a banker in London^ or the nearest banking town.
The tngisaction ia yery simple ; the Garoni banker orders a Londoa
banker to pay to the corresponident of any banker^ amwintad to
receive the advices, the sum in question on account of B« The
banker beinff advised in course oi post what had been done, pays
B ; a small commission charged by the Caroni banker and the
postage oonstitnte the whole expense. There is no risk what*
enrer ; and the affair is transacted in the most commodious and
cheapest manner. Bills of exchange are most commonly used in
different countries. They are merely orders, addressed by a
creditor to a debtor, directing the latter to pay his debt to soma
specified party in his vicinity. Thus tiie deotor in one place is
substitute for the debtor in the other place, a postage or two, and
a bill stamp are all the expenses.*

nOe Mc Cnlloch. Published by A. & C. Black, Edinburgh.

COMMERCE, FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC.

Commerce, whether it be carried on between the inhabitants of
different countries or districts, or between those of the same dis-
trict, is best conducted bj a distinct class of individuals denominated
merchants, from that ^' O^mmutatio Mereiwn " which forms their
business. Among the great advantages of our commerce will be the
establishment of agents and receiving warehouses all over the ''Grant"
for trading in the products of the agriculturists and producers of all
our valuable pigments and commercial manufactures; our raw
produce in sugar, co£Pee, cocoa, drugs, and dyes, as well as ship
timber and ropes, with niany other simple manufactures of the
natives before unlmown to European commerce. All these privi-
leges are to he^ree of duty ^ eilner on eacparts or such imports as
are for the use and benefit of the colonists. The principles of Free
Trcide are no longer viewed as barren and unprofitable speculations,
bom of theorists dreaming in their closets of public happiness never
to be realized. They have been sanction^ by the people and
Parliament of England. The latter vindicated in the senate,
and embodied in Acts of Parliament, those great principles which
the former established in their studies. To the glory and honour
of the Caraceas Cabinet be it said^ that th^ were the first people
in Spanish America, or a/n/y other land, to boldly promulgate
and demonstrate the wisdom and beneficent influence of com-
mercial freedom to an infant colont. They are also entitled
to the high praise of beins' ^e^rst by whom it was carried into
effect, and made a part of their *' Grant P4>i.ict " to the exiled
and oppressed Southerners. We trust that when that country,
which is now weighed down with debt caused by her strup^gle for
independence, shdtt have released herself from her liabilities, she
wiQ shine among the nations of the earth like her bright constella-
tions, assisted by an enlai^ement of the liberal ideas ^f/r^ trade
to and from ev^ry port in Venezuela. The time is not frAiistant—

" When, free as, sens or wind,
TJoboimd (Orinoco) shall flow for all mankind ;
Whole nations enter with each flowing tide,
And seas hut join the regions they <UTide."

ji.i ni l t.; r n .'. , ' -i ,

INCREASE OF POPULATION.

The capacity of the country in which the grant to Dr. Henry
M. Price^ of Virginia^ is located, for the increase of population,
when once opened up by an energetic race, can scarcdy be more
than elanced at in these pages, designed as a cursory descrip*
tion of the country, and its many adyantages, for those who wisa,
perhaps for their children's sake, to find an abundant home for a
large &mily. As a hand-book for such persons we have adhered
dosely to t&e best authorities, who have made unprejudiced visiU
to see for themselves. We haye in our brief remarks on commerce,
tried to show the circumstances most fiayourable for the production,
of wealth to a new colony, and shall now try to set forth those
which determine the increase of population. If the efforts made by
most governments in earlier times to increase population, such as
early marriages and rewards for' rearing large families, have not
been positively pernicious, it is pretty evident that they have been,
at least, uncalled for, and unnecessary. Man does not require any
adventitious inducements to early matrimonial connections. He is
compelled to eng age in them in a new settlement, though in civilized
communities he is restrained by prudential considerations. The
obligation in this 19th century to provide for the children cannot &il
to awaken the forethought and to influence the conduct of all, but
the most improvident and thoughtless ; for the many evidences of
depravity should make us feel thankful to civilization and Chris-
tianity, that Man cannot decide whether he bring up his children
or not (as in Ancient Rome), nor could he expose it in the market
place abandoned, without becoming an outcast from civil law and
society. We live in other days. When the &ther knows, or
shoula know, at least no hetter incentive to labour and honourable
pursuits than the love he bears his wife and children, that love
sustains him in every trial or vicissitude of life. To better their
condition,%o shield them from oppression he will willingly pack up
his all, and bid adieu to the graves of his parents, and every loved
spot ^^that his infancy knew," and build a new shelter and
provide for those dear ones that God has given him. Christianity,
in the few past centuries, has reclaimed man from that ^' Roman
state of barbarism ;" if not entirely reclaimed, it restrains him.
The principle laid down by Adam Smith holds good in all commu-
nities. ^' The demand for men," says he, ** like that of any other
commodity, necessarily regulates the production of men." It is
this demand whicli regulates and determines the state of population
in all the countries of the world.

Every one who inquires into the past and present state of the
world^ will find that population is everywhere determined by the
means of subsistence. When these have been increased, popula-
tion has been increased likewise^ and better provided for; hence the
motives for emigration to which these pages invite the attention of
our emigrating population are not one but legion. Subsistence is the
great'desideratum to a colonist Ours have besides free institutions^
fertile land^ at a small cost^ for ever theirs, and citizen privileges^
on settling permanently on the land they may purchase^ freedom of
religion^ the advantage of resident ministers^ and missionaries with
liberal grants of Bibles, Testaments^ prayer and hymn books,
tracts, in all languages, school books, and light literature. These
are the glorious forethoughts of a generous and benevolent English
people. The Society for the Propagation of Christian Knowledge,
and also the Missionary and Bible Societies have provided,
and are still sending in their gifts to the " Free Library of Caroni,"
promoted by" Mrs. Frederic Pattison. This library is for the use
of all the colonists, who abide by the by-laws ftirnished to all who
desire the mental culture therein provided. These benefits for
mental culture were, he it ever remembered, suggested by the
grantee, Dr. Henry M. Price, on behalf of a bookless people,
the Southerners, and also for every emigrant who may wish to
join them in their new colonies in the Price Grant. Now, if
food, both mental and physical, are abundantly supplied, with a
fine healthful climate, and municipal laws made by themselves for
their self government, may not population safely be left to take
care of itself? Instead of there being the least risk of its falling
below the means of subsistence, the great danger is all in the
opposite direction. There is but one limit to the prolific power of
plants and animals in this region of the world. They are endued
with a principle which impels them to increase their numbers
beyond the nourishment prepared for them. "Throughout the
animal and vegetable kingdoms (and in this quarter in particular),,
nature has scattered the seeds of life with a most profiise and
liberal hand ; but has been comparatively sparing with the nourish-
ment necessary to rear them. The germs of existence contained in
this earth, if they could fi-eely develope themselves, would fill
millions of worlds in the com'se of a few thousand years. Neces-
sity, that prevailing law of nature, restrains them. The race of
animals and plants shrink under this great restrictive law." —
Malt1tti8»

Wars, plagues, epidemics, famine, and last but not least, present
oppression and an anticipated war of races, has induced the
Southern people to accept the " noble gift " of the Government of

Venezuela; as a fiitare home and abiding place. Their abSitj for
snccessM colonization and peoplm^ a large oountrj is fully known
by a glance at history from Sir Walter Kaleigh and John Smith
to the present day. The foreign emigrant has always found a
home and a friend in the Southern States, from tbe Charter
of Charles II. for Virginia, and the grant of Maryland to
Calvert; Lord BaltimOTe, down to the disruption of the States by
civil war. The persecuted Quaker, and all suflFerers in the " Bay
Colonies whose mutilation was the penalty of a mere tenet of
religion " that differed from the "Pilgrim Fathers," who pro-
fessed to seek a new home in the Bay Colonies "where there was
freedom to worship God !" found a refuge and a home in Maryland
under Lord Baltimore's Liberal Government. It is the descendants of
those people who are to receive and locate you on your arrival in that
bright region which they are now populating. Emigrants from
England will meet a kindred race (and their own religion) readj
to assist and advance their interests in any way in their power, as
well as any other people who wish to jpin their settlements, and
enjoy their many privileges in a country renowned for its hospitality
and abundance.

THE FREE LIBRARY EOR CAEONI, SOOTH AMERICA.

My LordS; Ladies^ and Gentlemen^ and all who sympathize with
the unfortunate and homeless Confederates.

I am requested to enter, this appeal to you by Dr. Henry M.
Price, of Scottsville, Albemarle co., Virginia, U. S., the grantee
of the "gift of land," by the Venezuelan Government, to the deso-
lated Southerners^ of 240,000 square miles of land, in the district
of Gaayana and Amizomas, in South America, as their future
home and abiding plac^. Will the solicited be so kind as to pre-
sent any old books, bibles, prayer books, or works of light litera-
ture, history, geography, or science, to form a nucleus of a library
in their new home in C!aroni, on the Orinoco River, where numbers
have already sought refuge from the tyranny of the Radical Con-
gress of the United States, and where they hope to cultivate their
native productions in peacie, viz^ — cotton^ cocoa, spice, indigo, and
tobacco, for the benefit of themselves and the European markets.

The ravages of Sherman and Sheridan left no books or Bibles
in their route through the Southern States. The hooks they could
not steal they humed: and for a reading Christian people I ask
your literary aid. I feel authorised thus publicly to solicit your
donations, as the wife of James Frederick Pattison, Esq.,
Managing Director of the American, English, and Venezuelan
Trading and Commercial Company.

The donors are particularly requested to vnrite their names on
the title page to enable a public acKnowledgment of the same, and
to apprise the lady solicitor where and when they may be sent for.
Any further information will be readily given on application to
Mrs. Frederic Pattison, Office of the Chartered American, English,
and Venezuelan Trading and Commercial Company, The Crescent,
America Square, E.G.

*' Without hooka God is silent ^ justice dormant, natural science at
a stand, philosophy lame, letters dumh, and aU things involved in
Cimmerian darkness.'^ — ^Babthglln".

From the Standard, Fehruary 7th, 1867.

** NoBTHBiur Vandalism. — The Venezuelan Gk>Tenunent have made a gift
of 240,000 square miles of land in South Ameiioa to the expatriated Con-
federateSy where they hope to found a prosperous colony, and cultiTate their
cotton and tobacco in peace. A curious fsict has been brought to light by this
eyent. The Northern soldiery left no books in the Southern States, but
destroyed or took away all (not excepting the family Bibles,) that they could

lay fheir hands on, so that they not only left behind them a fiunine of mate-
rial and social comforts, but of literature. An appeal is made to the wealthier
classes in England who sympathised with the patriotic sacrifices of the Sonth-
emers, for donations of any old books, Bibles, Prayer-books, pamphlets,
periodicals, or works of light literature, history, geography, or scienoe."

To the Bomrs of Books for the Free Library for Caroni,

Veneztiela, 8. A.

Mrs. James Frederic Pattisoo begs to acknowledge the foUpwing
donations for the Free Library^ to be establisbed in the town of
Caroni, the capital of the future Confederate States of Venezuela,
magnanimouslj muted them by that Government as a peaceful
and independent nome.

Au Extract from the Report of the Society for Promoting
Christian Knowledge, May 7th, 1867:—

" Mrs. Frederick Fattison, recommended by the Bight Beverend the Lord
Bishop of Llandaff, and the Beverend Canon Dale, of St. Paul's, applied for a
grant of books and tracts, and books for the Smiday School children ; a few
Common I^yer Books in Spanish, for the use of 100,000 emigrants from the
Southern States of America, now settling at Caroni, on the Ormoco Biver, on
a gift of land made to them by the Venezeula Gk>Yemment. All the books
and Bibles (in the route of the army) in the Southern States were destroyed
by the war. In this case the Board granted the books asked for, together with
some old stock.''

To the Bight Beverend Lord Bishop of Barbadoes, for a case of Books.

To the Bight Beverend Bishop Quintard, of Tennessee, who is interested in

Missionaries for the Colony.
To the Beverend Canon Dale, of St. Paul's, for a personal select donation.

Library Edition, for " the Exiles."
To the Beverend J. W. Bogers, of Memphis, Tennessee, of the Southern

States, also interested in Missionaries for the Colony.
To the British and Foreign Bible Society, for a grant of Bibles in the

English and Spanish lang^iages.
To the " Dublin Tract Society," solicited by Miss Grosvenor, for a grant of

Books and Tracts, Leaflets and Books.
To the various BeUgious Missionaries in the Champ de Mars, at the great

Litemational Exposition, Paris, for 15,000 Tracts, in every living

language.
To the Beverend William Langston Coxhead, M.A., Vicar of Kirby-le-Soken^

Essex, for Books and Magazines.
To the Beverend Arthur and Mrs. Isham, Bectory, Western Turville, for a

valuable gift of Books, &c.
To the Beverend J. H. A. and Mrs. Walsh and Miss Walsh, the Bectory,

Bishopstrow, Wilts, for Books and Magazines, &c. ♦

To the Beverend George Cranley and Mrs. Bowles, the Bectory, East Thorpe,

Essex, for three donations.
To the Beverend F. and Mrs. Freshney, the Vicarage, Skidbroke, near

Louth, for a donation, Books, Music, and Magazines.
To the Beverend J. E. and Mrs. PhilKps, the Vicarage, Warminster, Wilts,

for a donation of Books and MagazazMS

To the Incumbent of l^orp Acre, the Beverend J. Bridges, Otteley, for a

case of Books for the ** Poor Exiles/' second and third gift of Books.
To the Beverend F. H. Bichings, M.A., and Miss Bichlngs, The Vicarage,

Atherstone, Warwickshire, for a gift of Books and £1.
To Mrs. Liscombe Clarke, widow of the late Archdeacon L. Clarke, of

Salisbury Cathedral, for many donations of Books, a Church Service, an

Altar-piece, and £10 for Scientific Works. Also £10 towards a Har-
monium for St. Paul's Church at Caroni.
To Mrs. F. Temple, of Bishopstrow House,- Wilts, sister of the above lady,

for a liberal gift of Books and Magazines. And many Illuminated texts

for the Church.
To Mrs. Gilbert Heathcote, also sister to Mrs. L. Clarke, of the College,

Winchester, for Bibles and Books.
To Mrs. Diinkwater, of HeEwiley Villas, East Moulsey, for a donation of

Books and many useful Domestic Articles for the " Poor Exiles."
To M. H. F., for £5, ^' For the poor afiOUcted Southerners going to Caroni,"

for Books and Bibles.
To Mrs. James Bonar, of Bosye Lodge, Upper Norwood, for a valuable

Selection from a Family Library, and £1 10s. for special purposes.
To Miss E. Bonar, of Norham Lodge, Leamington, for Musio and Books,

Bibles and Tracts.
To Miss Lynd, of 6, Birtie Terrace, Leamington, for two donations of Books

and Music, in French, Italian, and German.
To Mrs. O'HaUoran, of Courtney Villas, Leamington, for Books and Music,

in French and German.
To Mrs. George Gulliver, Bridgecroft House, near Edenbridge, Kent, for a

valuable collection of Books, Music, and Magazines.
To Mrs. C. H. Pitts, Earsham, near Bangay, Suffolk, for the Military

Library of her late hilsband, Lieut-Col. Pitts, B.E., Books in five

languages.
To Mrs. Hicks, of Wanstead, for Books and Music in Italian and French.
To Mrs. Hill, 200, Adelaide Bead, for Books and Music in several

languages.
To Mrs. M. A. White, 6, College Place, Brighton, for Books.
To Mrs. Phillips, and Miss Coxhead, of Cheltenham, for valuable Books,

Music, and Magazines.
To Mrs. T. S. Pattiion, Binfield Bead, Clapham, and her lady friends, for a

donation of Books and Music, with second donation of Music.
To Mrs. C. L., 48, Buik^n Crescent, for many valuable Books.
To Henry Banco, Esq., and Mrs. Bance, of Cambridge, for a liberal donation

of Books and a second donation of Music.
To Mrs. Greorge Bound, of East Hill House, Colchester, Essex, for Books

and Magazines.
To Mrs. M. Wheatiierly, 17, New Cross Bead, for a case of Books.
To Mrs. James Worth, 52, Talbot Terrace, Westboume Park, and her lady

Mends, for Books, Music, and Periodicals. ^

To Mrs. J. Broadbent, of Charter-house, Hull, for Books and Magazines.
Tp Miss Grosvenor, for many valuable donations of Books, Bibles, and

Prayer Books.
To Miss Lance, of the Holmwood, Dorking, for two donations of Books and

Magazines.
To George Haseltine, Esq., Patent Solicitor, 8, Southampton Buildings,

for many useful Books for the library for Caroni.
To Mrs. L. Errington, of Bensham, Durham, and her lady Mends, for Books,
Magazines, &c.

To Mrs. T. Haydn Harrison, for a donation <^ Miiflio.

To Master Chapin Blandy, for a giffc of Books.

To Miss Jones, of Lonsdale Square, Islington, for two donations of Books

and Magazines.
To Mrs. Suttaby, of Stoke Newington, for a case of Books.
To Mrs. E. Murray, of Leamington Spa, for a case of Books.
To Mrs. M. A. Taylor, of Amersham, Berks, for a donation of Books.
To E. Cooper, Esq., Clifton, near York, for Books and Bibles.
To E. Frances Taylor, Esq., of Winchester, for Music and Books.
To Mark Fothergill, Esq., Sydenham, for Ancient Works and Magazines.
To Mr. George H. Robinson, of Begent Street, Leamington, for Boolos.
To TJ. B. Mattacks, Esq., of Colchester, for Books and Tracts.
To liilr. Chester, of Portland Road, for Cooper's Works entire.
To Mr. G. W. King, of Portland Road, for Scientific Works, and

Chronometer, also an additional gift of Books.
To Anthony Murray, Esq., DoUery, Scotland, for case of Books.
To Mrs. R. Baily, for Books and Magazines.
To Captain J. B. Emory, R.N., of Surbiton, for Books and Charts.
To R. Coulson, Esq., Water Street, London, for two donations of Books and

Magazines.
To Mrs. Painter, for a gift of Books.
To J. T. Dann, Esq., C.E., for three donations of Books and Charts, many

on Civil Engineering.
To Messrs. Cottam & Cottam, Old St. Pancras Road, for four years of

The Illustrated News.
To Henry Bickers, Esq., for a valuable gift of Books, well selected.
To Mrs. and Miss Turner and their Mends, for a gift of Books and Magazines ;

£1 for special purposes.
To Mrs. Peddie and the Rev. R. Stewart dough, Morning Side, Edinburgh,

for two Cases of Books, Bibles, and Testaments.
To Mrs. Stonehouse Vigors, Gordon Villas; Clifton, for a gift of Bibles and

PrayiBr-books.

" Books are standing eounsellors and preachers, always at hand and always
disinterested; having this advantage over oral instructors, that they are ever
ready to repeat their lessons as often as toe please"

CLIME AND PRODUCE.

The soil of Venezuela produces cotton in five varieties of colour,
viz : white, pink, blue, red, and nankeen, wild flax, grass silk,
•chiquichiqui palm for rope making : sugar in three varieties, the
Creole, the Otaheite, and the Batavia canes; coffee, of a superior
quality, cocoa, rice, tqpioca, sago, com, or Indian maize, wheat,
harley, and oats, with tobacco of a fine Quality.

The fruits are pines, bananas, bread miit, prickly pear, guava,
pomegranate, apples, peaches, plantains, oranges, ngs, grapes,
lemons, almonds, alligator pear, strawberries, gooseberries, rasp-
berries, currants, melons, in all their varieties, cocoa nuts, brazil
nuts, pecans, tamarinds, &c. ; for there is every climate there.
Farinaceous trees, plants, roots, (many of which are unknown to
European markets) as capaichos, lairens, yaca (of which the
natives make a nutritious and delicious bread), cassava, arrowroot,
<&c., &c.

Drugs and Medicinal Plants and Roots, such as sarsa-
parilla, copaiba, Peruvian bark, quinine, simaruba, soda, balsam,
und gums of various kinds; also febrifuge plants, five varieties of
quinquina, together with many medicinal nerbs and trees, as the
medicinal ag^ve or aloe tree, (fee, &c.

Dyes. — Indigo, dragon's blood, cochineal, logwoods of many
varieties, vanilla, and anata.

The Forest Trees are mahogany, live oak, cedar, ship
timber, red and golden cabinet woods, lignumvitae, and various
other species of hard woods, Bauhema-wood of colossal size, the
bombax ceiba, the chiquichiqui palm, from which a native
cordage is made which deserves to be. better known in Europe,
the PALM tree in great variety, the milk tree or palo de vaca^
fi*om which the natives derive a nutritious drink, black and white
ebony, mulberry, &c.

The miscellaneous Articles of Commerce are ox hides,
deer hides, the oils of the palm and cocoa trees, wax, copal, India
rubber, asphalte, naphtha, petroleum, turtle oil, salt, gem salt,
native alum, sulphur, &c.

Metals. — Gold (24 carats), silver, copper, zinc, lead, quick-
silver, mercury, iron, coal of a fine quality is also found. Among
the precious stones are diamonds, pearls, and malachites. The country
abounds in fish, flesh, and wild fowl. The exportation of deer
skins fi'om Ciudad Bolivar was more than half a million last year.
The water communications in this magnanimous *^ Grant," consist

D 2

of 404 navigable streams flowing into the Great Orinoco, making
communication with Europe safe and easy.

Cacao^ or chocolate, a native plants has given our country the
greatest celebrity for this article of commerce, and it has been
asserted by the renowned traveller, Baron You Humboldt, '^ That
Venezuela could produce cacao for the entire demand of Europe.'^
This tree thrives best on land newly cleared, and surrounded by
forests, which-make the atmosphere mora damp. There, the father
of a family may, with his children, clear land, raise young cacao
plants under the shade of the plantains, and prepare a future
fortune for himself and children. Thirty thousand trees secure
competence for a large family for a generation and a half. They
affect a temperate zone from east to west. In proportion as the
country becomes cleai^ed or denuded of trees, drier and more
exposed to the winds, of course, these physical changes affect the
production of the cacao trees. From New Andalusia alone, in 1799,
2,200,000 lbs. of cacao was exported. What must she do in
future, when an Anglo-Saxon race has entered the country with a
view to agriculture ? It must not be forgotten that the cacao
plantations require less cultivation than other crops; one man
being sufl&cient for 1000 trees, which will yield, on an average,
annually, 1320 lbs. The crops of cacao are gathered twice a year,
at the end of June, and at the end of December. This tree
vegetates with such strength that flowers spring out even from the
ligneous roots, whenever the earth leaves them uncovered. There
is a species of cacao tree wild in the forests, but its quality is
inferior."

^* It is on the baiiks of the Upper Orinoco that we find the true
country of the cacao tree irom a clearing in a thick forest, on a
virgin soil, surrounded by an atmosphere continually humid from
the presence of trees, the cacao tree furnishes abundant crops in
the fourth year. The fruit becomes by cultivation larger, and
with a finer flavour. European merchants assign the first rank to
the cacao of Venezuela, and its price is generally from thirty to
forty per cent, higher than that of Guayaquil. From an official
document in my possession, the annual produce of cacao from the
provinces of Venezuela in 1793, is estimated at 135,000 fanegas,
(i.e,) 110 lbs. ; 33,000 were for home consumption ; 10,000 for the
Spanish colonies ; 77,000 for Spain ; 15,000 for illicit commerce
with the English, French, Dutch, and Danish colonies."*

The Coffee of Venezuela. — ^The celebrated traveller above
referred to asserts, " That in 1804 the export of coffee fi:om this

* Vide Humboldt. Personal Narrative.

region to European markets was 10,000 quintals (100 lbs. to the
quintal), and^n 1810 and 1812 more than two millions of quintals
of cotfee (amounting in value to £10,000,000 sterling) were accu-
mulated in the warehouses of England alone,^^ The predilection
for raising coffee in this " Grant," or province, is founded on the
circumstance that the berry can be preserved during a great
number of years. Their method of planting is not by scion or
shoot, but by exposing the seeds to germination for five days
between plantain leaves partially relieved of the pulp. When these
seeds have germinated they are sown, and produce plants that can
bear the sun far better than those produced in the shade. In this
<;ountry 5300 coffee trees are planted to a vanega (equal to four
French acres). The coffee tree bears flowers the second year, and
its flowering lasts only twenty-four hours. During this season the
shrub has a charming aspect; at some distance it appears
covered with snow. The third year the yield is abundant. Some
trees bear fi^om eighteen to twenty pounds of coffee, but the average
is three pounds per tree when not properly attended to; The cul-
tivation of coffee is far less fetiguing than that of many other crops.

Tea could also be cultivated, as well as coffee, in the moun-
tainous parts of this "Grant"; all climates are here found, rising
in stages one above the other, and this new culture has been found
to succeed there as well as in Brazil.

The sugar cane flourishes on this soil with great success. The
sugar, coffee, and tobacco which are cultivated are the best that
are found in the markets of the world, as reference to European
price currents will show.

" There are three species of sugar-cane cultivated in Yenezuela,
the ancient Creole sugar-cane, the Otaheite cane, and the Batavia
cane ; they can be distinguished by the colour oi their leaves even
•at a distance. The first has a deeper green leaf than the others,
the stem smaller, and the knots nearer together. This sugar-cane
was introduced fi'om India to the West Indies, and thence to
Venezuela. The leaves of the second are of a lighter green ; its
stem is higher, thicker, and far more succulent. The whole plant
displays a more luxuriant vegetation. This plant was brought by
M. Bougainville from the Isle of France to the West Indies,
thence to Venezuela. The Otaheite sugar-cane is an important
introduction into this province, and yields not only one-third more
juice than the former on an equivalent area, but is also valued for
its stem and the tenacity of its ligneous fibres. It frirnishes fiiel
in countries where fiiel is scarce, as in the West Indies; but as
Venezuela abounds in forests, it is not required as fiiel for boiling
the sugar. The Otaheite sugar-cane was introduced into Venezuela

from the British island of Trinidad by Don Simon do Majora; and
its success in this province has dispelled the apprehension which
was first entertained^ '' that the Otaheite cane would degenerate,
by transplanting into Venezuela, into an inferior quality ;" for it
has increased in quality, and if it be a variety, it is a very con-
stant one.

The third species, the violet sugar'Cane called ^^Cana de
Batavia " or the native name De Chiinea, is certainly indigenous
to the Island of Java. Its foliage is purple green with very broad
leaves \ it is preferred for making rum. The grounds where this
cane is planted are divided by hedges of a colossal gynenum with
two lines of leaves, so that the fai*mer can plant a secure hedge at
little cost or labour. The fields of sugar canes from the soft
▼erduro of the young reeds resemble a vast meadow. Everything
in this country denotes abundance and prosperity. The Creole and
Otaheite canes are planted in the month of April. The Creole
four feet apart, the Otaheite five feet apart. The cane ripens in
fourteen months ; fields are planted consecutively, so as to keep
them ready ; it flowers in the month of October. The tassel or top
is cut off before the panicle or the soft woolly beard of the plant is
unfolded. This flowering quality alters the quantities of the juices in
wine producing magney, from which pulque is made as the wine yield-
ing palm tree, but not in the usual canes. The fabrication of sugar
for nome consumption is usually in small loaves, called papelon ; it
is an impure sugar of a yellow brown colour, it contains a mixture
of molasses and mucilaginous matter. The present system of
sugar manufacture would soon give as pure an article as Louisiana or
the West India productions. The poorest man in Venezuela eats
papelon as in Europe he eats cheese. It possesses nutritious
qualities, and fermented with water it yields the guarapo, the favourite
drink of the labouring classes. The consumption of papelon in the
provinces of Venezuela for the fabrication of chocolate and sweet-
meats is so enormous that the exportation of sugar is small, as the
natives cultivate the cane only in small plantations."*

The sugar-cane often exceeds 30 feet in length. On the coast it
commonly grows upright, and to the height of six or eight feet; but
inland their growth is so luxuriant that they ofiben iall and stretch
to a great length on the ground. These enormous growths are
found almost in a state of nature, or without any weeding^
trenching, or labour of drainage ; and besides, they contain a more
pure saccharine juice, without that impregnation of sea salt which^
in new lands on the coast, impedes the granulation of the sugar.

* Vide Htimboldt'B Personal Nairative. Vol. vi.

The inland tribes, moreover, are fond of agriculture, and there
the plough would be used with vast advantages. The use of the
plough was introduced with astonishing effect among the
Oherokees, the Greeks, the Ohoctaws, and the Seminole Indians of
North America. This was done by the inmiortal Washington,
whose military greatness was of a different stamp from that of
tyrants and of great commanders in general ; and this act towards
tiie Indians was viewed by philanthropic minds as one of the most
glorious of his life, but me deeds oi his successors have been
lamentably different, as witnessed in the exterminating warfare
pursued against these once happy people,

European and Indian cereals flourish in various disti'icts
according to elevation of temperature. Wheat, barley, and oats
grow luxuriously in those portions of country enjoying a mean
temperature of 26° to 28°, and consequently, fitted for those produc-
tions, which in Europe are exclusively termed colonial. Venezuela
has cold and temperate as well as tropical climates. '^ It is the
country of bananas and of wheat."* ^' It is a fact worthy
of particular attention that wheat is cultivated with great
success, at » height that does not exceed 300 toises (ue.) 1800 feet
above the level of the sea, amidst the cultivation of coffee trees,
sugar-cane, and also in places where the mean temperature of the
year is at least 25^. In equatorial Mexico and New Granada, the
cereals of Europe yield abundantly, onl^ at 42^ and 46^ la-
titude, a height at which its cultivation ceases in Europe. In
Venezuela, on the contrary, the lower limit of wheat descends in
the most unexpected manner towards the hot plains of the coast."
** Having passed through Venezuela with the barometer in my
hand, I think it proper to state here succinctly that the regions in
Venezuela, from 300 to 500 toises high, may be termed temperate
climates, suitable for the culture of sugar, coffee, and European
eereals."t The spring crop of wheat in Venezuela is planted in
December, and the harvest is reaped on the seventy-fifth day ; the
grain is large, white, and abounding in gluten.

Its pellicle is thinner, and not so hard as the wheat of cold
climates. An acre, generally, will yield from 3000 to 3200 lbs.
weight of wheat. Hence the average produce is consequently
here three or four times as much as in cold climates, and two
crops a year is iJways sown and reaped. Nearly sixteen times the
quantity of seed is reaped to that sown. France yields six for one,
or say 1200 lbs to ^e acre. Notwithstanding this fecundity of
soil and happy influence of climate on wheat and European cereals,

• Vide Humboldt. t VicU Humboldt.

sugar planting has heretofore been more productive than that of
com, as an article of commerce. It hence results that this fine
country produces at once sugar and com. Since calculations have
been made on the progress of agriculture m the different zones,
and the temperature under which com will flourish, it has been
found that^ beyond the latitude of 45^, the produce of wheat is
nowhere so considerable as on the table lands of South America.
The fine harvests of Egypt and Algiers, on the northern coast of
Africa, and in the interior of Cuba, sufficiently prove that the
augmentation of heat is not prejudicial td the harvest of wheat and
other alimentary grains.

CocoA-NuT Trees as a Landscape. — "Of the cocoa-nut
palms we had a splendid view at break of day. We anchored off
the mouth of the river Manzanares, on the 16th of July — our eyes
were fixed on the splendid groups of cocoa-nut trees that bordered
the river, and the trunks of which were more than 60 feet high,
towering over the landscape : the plain was covered with cassias,
whose arborescent mimosas, like the pines of Italy, extend their
branches in the form of an umbrella. The pinnated leaves of the
cocoa palms were conspicuous on the azure sky, the clearness of
which was unsullied by any trace of vapours. The sun was
ascending rapidly towards the zenith ; a dazzling light was spread
through the air, along whitish hil|s clothed with cylindric cactuses^
and over a sea ever calm, the shores of which were peopled with
the brown pelican as large as a swan ; the wild heron and red
flamingo. The splendour of the day, the vivid colom* of the
vegetable world, the form of the plants, the varied plumage of the
birds, everything announcing the grand aspect of nature in this
charming region."* The cocoa-nut tree is a tme palm of
the coast, it prefers salt water to fresh, and flourishes best
near the coast. In many places it is cultivated around farm
houses to form shade, and for its fruit ; but in general forms real
plantations. In fertile moist ground the cocoa-nut tree bears fruit
in abundance in the fourth year. The duration of the tree is from
80 to 100 years : its mean height is from ?0 to 80 feet. It may be
reckoned, that on an average, a tree produces generally 100 nuts^
which yield eight pints of oil, which is limpid and without smell.
It is used as an article of commerce, ana bums with a bright
light; the fresh and pure is used for domestic purposes. The
trade in this oil is not less brisk here than on the coast of Africa,
One tree will yield an annual income of 12s. 10|d. The longevity
of the cocoa tree is very great, and it bears abundantly until

*ride Humboldt.

40 years old ; afiter this age the produce diminishes, yet a trunk of
100 years will still bear fruit. Each bearing tree monthly shoots
forth from ten to fourteen nuts^ all of which do not ripen. This
pahn tree occupies, on both continents, a zone from east to west, of
which the mean temperature of the year is not below 30°. The
cocoa tree grows in the northern part of Venezuela, and also near
the Equator, we find it from the plains to 4200 feet elevation above
the level of the sea. It is like the chamaerois of the Mediterranean,
a true palm tree of the coast, and thrives best where the air is
loaded with saline particles than when planted inland. The
planter throws haK a bushel of salt into the hole where the uut is
planted ; regular humidity suits it best among the plants culti*
vated by man, the sugar-cane, the plantain, the mammee apple,
and the alligator pear, all indigenous to this country and all
having the property of the cocoa trecy viz : — ^that of being watered
alike with fresh and salt water, with the same result.

The Saqo Trees. — ^^ This palm-like tree, also affects the coast;
and constitutes the wealth of the ^Guaraon Indians,' whoinhabit that
section of coimtry around the coast, although it is remarkable that it
is found 60 leagues farther south flourishing inland. At this season
it is loaded with enormous clusters of red fruit, resembling the
cone of a pine fir. ^ Our monkeys were extremely tond of this fruit ;
they would make the greatest efforts to reach the clusters that luxu-
riantly hung over their heads.' When, after travelling, we reached
the shade of those palm sago trees, we were astonished at the
many things connected with the existence of this single plant in
this region. The wind loses its velocity when in contact with the
foliage and branches of these trees. The smell of the fruit and the
brightness of the verdure, attracts, from afar, the birds of passage,
which delight in the vibrating motion of the branches of the sa^o
tree. A solitary group of the sago palms in the desert womd
claim the admiration and gratitude of the traveller.'"*' We
will now enumerate some of its uses. It yields the flour of
which the yucama bread is made, and yields a quantity of nutri-
tious matter, which far exceeds that of any other tree furnished to be
nsefiil to man. One trunk of a tree in its fifteenth year will yield
600 pounds of sago meal. Mr. Crawford, an English traveller,
calculates '^ That an English acre could contain 435 sago trees,
which would yield 120,509 pounds (avoirdupoise) of meal, and with
their triennial crops, it would be more than 8000 pounds yearly. This
produce is triple that of corn, and double that of potatoes." In
the season of mundation of the Delta of the Orinoco, these sago

*ride Humboldt.

palms form the habitations of the Ghutraon Indians. Their abodes
are suspended from those trees; they hang op mats made fiom this
fik^y which they fiU with earth and olaj. Upon this arrangement
they kindle a nre for thidir domei^tic wants. It not only affords
them a safe dwelling in the Delta of the Orinoco^ bat its jnicy
fruits, its &rinaoeous pith ; its juice abounding in saocharine matter,
and the £bre8 of its petals at the foot-stalks of its leares, furnish
them with food and wine^ and when ripe and dried, thread proper
for weaving hammocks and making ropes. The aarigator, as he
approaches the Delta of Orinoco at night, sees with surprise the
summit of the sago palms illuminated by large fires. These are
the fires of the Indians who inhabit those trees, whom Sir Walter
Haleigh named ^' Waraweties, or people whose houses are hung up
in palm trees." It is curious to observe in the lowest degree of human
dvilization, the existence of a whole tribe depending on one HngU
species of pakn tree, very similar to those mseots which feed on
one plant and its flower. What a difference between this species
and the date tree of the East ? which is become to the landscape
painters of Europe (unfortunately) the type of a group of pakn
trees. Incomplete analogies prevent Etut>peans forming a just idea
of the aspect of vegetation in the Torrid Zone. Although the sago
tree is a social plant, and has palmate leaves, yet it is no relation
to ihepalm trees; its leaves or palm crown a trunk of 80 to 100
feet high, their direction is almost perpendicular, their plumes of
the most soft and verdant green.

Indioo.— The manufacture of this staple of commerce forms one
of the many sources of wealth of Venezuela. The indigo manu-
fiu^ries of Cumanacoa, of San Fernando, and Arenas, produce
indigo of greater commercial value than that of Guatemala, in
Central America, so renowned for the quality of that article. The
richness of the colour in Venezuela indigo equals in splendour any
other. They plant the seed of the iridigofera and the indi^fera
imotoria. The plant is 4 feet high, and yields great colouring
matter. The manufactories are all built on the same prin-
ciple. Two steeping vessels or vats, which receive the plants in-
tcoided to be brought into a state of fermentation, are joined
together. Each of them is 15 feet square and 2| feet deep. From
these upper vats the liquor runs into beaters, between which is
placed the water-mill. The uletree of the great wheel crosses the
two beaters. It is furnished with ladles fixed to long handles^
adapted for the beating. From a spacious settling vat the colouring
fecfda is carried to the drying place, and spread on planks on smaU
wheels, which can be run under shelter m 'case of sudden rains.
The sloping roofi of these drying sheds give them the appearance

of a hot house at a short distance* In Venezuela the fennentation
of the plant is produced with astonishing rapidity ; it only lasts
four or five hours. This short duration of fermentation is attribu-
table to the humidity of the section where indigo is reared^ and
also to the intensity of the sun during the middle of the day. The
drier the climate the slower the vats work, and the greater is the
quahty of indigo at the minimum of oxidation contained in the
stalks. In the provinces of Venezuela 562 feet of the plant
slightly piled up yield thirty-five or forty pounds of d/ry indigo;
Ithe liquid does not pass into the beater until after thirty-nve hours*
'^It is probable that the manufacturers of indigo would extract more
colouring matter from the plant employed if they left it thirty-five
hours in the vat. The plantersgenerallyare of opinion that indigo
should ferment in ten hours. We tried the solutions of Venezuela
and other countries in order to compare them, and the solutions of
the former were of a more intense blue"* Of course, when the
present improvements are introduced, and the skill of genius is
applied, the increase will be adequate to the application.

Tobacco. — The tobacco of Venezuela excels all the tobacco of
America, not excepting Virginia, U. S. ; it is peculiarly aromatic.
We will g^ve some particulars of its culture Tiere, as it is essen-
tially difierent from that which is practised in Virginia. The pro-
digious expansion, which is remarkable in all large-leaved plants
in Venezuela, seems to indicate how favourable *^ this Grant " is
for plantations of tobacco. The seed is sown in the open ground
at the beginning of September for the first crop, and not till the
last of December for the second crop. The seed lobe springs up
on the eighth day, when the plants are covered with large leaves
of the plantain, to shelter it from the rays of the sun. Great care
is taken to destroy the weeds, which in warm climates spring up
• rapidly. The tobacco is then transplanted into a rich and well-
prepared ground. When the plant is two months old, they
are disposed in rows some four feet apart each way. Care is taken
to weed them often, and the centre stalk is often topped, until

geenish-blue spots indicate the maturity of the leaves. They
gin to gather them in the fourth month. At the first gatherings
the planter cuts the plant near the root, where new leaves spring
up with such rapidity, that there may be a new gathering in fifteen
days. These last leaves contain more water, more albumen, and
less of that arid, volatile principle, which is but little soluble in
water, and in which the stimulant property of tobacco seems to
reside. The preparation which the tobacco, after being gathered^

• Vide Humholdt.

undergoes, is what the inhabitants call ^^ eura seea,^ or dry cure.
The leaves btq suspended by the fibres of the agave or aloe plant;
their ribs are taken out, and the tobacco leaves are twisted into
cords. The prepared tobacco should ' be ready to house in June.
The soil of Venezuela is so suitable for this branch of culture, that
tobacco grows wild wherever the seed is dropped. The species of
tobacco selected in Venezuela for culture, is. the plant with large
sessile leaves, called Virginia tobacco. If the culture of tobacco was
under the American system, the provinces of Venezuela could^fomish
the greater part of Europe with tobacco. The growth of this article
of commerce is now confined to a limited space. The hope of ^uin
seldom stimulates the Indians or peons to engage in the culture
of this plant, as no one will advance the necessary funds to prepare
for the culture of tobacco. The former prohibitive system of
Spanish rule retarded agriculture in this as well as other lucra-
tive produptions, diminished the riches of nature, and often
attempted in vain to separate provinces traversed by the same
rivers, the limits of which are confounded together in uninhabited
spaces. The real herbaceous tobacco has been cultivated firom time
immemorial by all the Missionaries and Indians of Venezuela, and
at the time of the Spanish conquest the habits of smoking was
found to be alike spread over both Americas. The Maypure
Indians of Guayana were found by the Conqueror wrapping their
tobacco in maize leaves to form cigars ; as the Mexicans were found
doing on the arrival of Cobtes. The Spaniards adopted paper as
a cover and hence the " cigarette" of the present day. The poor
Indian of the Orinoco knew as well as did the great nobles of^ the
Court of Montezuma that the smoke of tobacco was an excellent
narcotic, and they not only used it to procure their afternoon nap,
but also to put themselves into that state of quietude which they
in their simplicity called *^ their day dreamt Every tribe of
Indians had a different name for this plant, viz : pete-ma, pety,
yetlsema, oyagona, sayri, pais, tusup, naloolagadi, sabane, cavia,
jema, and many others. These names did not really signify the
herb or plants but the instrument through which the smoke was
inhaled. Of the four species of niootiana cultivated in Europe
there are» only found two that grow wild ; they are to be found on
the declivities of the Andes, at 1850 toises elevation, almost the
height of the Peak of Teneriffe. The whole genus, however,
is almost exclusively American; for the greater number of the
species seem to belong to the mountainous and temperate regions
of the tropics. It is neither from Virginia nor firom South
America (as it is said erroneously in several agricultural and
botanical works,) but from the Mexican province of Yucatan, that

«
1

Europe received the first tohacco seed, about the year 1559. The
renowned historian and intrepid discoverer (Sir Walter Raleigh,
who so glowingly describes the provinces of Venezuela and the i

fecundity of her soil) contributed most to the introduction of ,

smoking among the nations of the north. For at the end of the
16th century bitter complaints were made in England ^' of this
imitation of the manner of savage nations." It was the practice of
smoking tobacco which caused Lord Camden's celebrated remark
^* Anglorum corpora in harharorum naturam degenerent,^^ The
Spaniards became acquainted with tobacco in the West Indies, at
the end of the 15th century, and the culture of this narcotic plant
preceded the beneficent cultivation of the potato in Europe more
than 140 years. When Sir Walter Raleigh brought tobacco from
Virginia to England, in 1586, whole plantations of tobacco were
already cultivated in Portugal. The potato, which has had such a
powerful influence on the well being of society, has spread in both
continents with more slowness than the production of tobacco,
which should be considered only as a simple article of luxury ; yet
it has become to the European nations an article of necessity, hence
its importance as a lucrative staple of commerce and revenue to the
countries that import it, and the planter who cultivates it ; and now
in Venezuela, where its culture will be unrestrained by duties or
government restrictions, we may hope for prosperity to our colony .
from its culture and a better article for exportation.*

Cotton and its Cultivation. — ^The culture of cotton, so
limited heretofore in Venezuela, has received an imexpected
impetus from the arrival of many thousands of those Southern Cot-
ton Planters, whom the destruction of their property, and the absence
of social order, has driven from the Southern States of the United
States of North America ; men who thoroughly understand the
culture oi the plant. Their improvements in the culture, cleaning,
and packing of cotton for European markets insure a gi'eat success
in Venezuela, which country claims five distinct colours or shades
of colour in cotton, according to the soil in which it is planted.
In moist land the tree flourishes best which bears nankeen coloured
cotton ; it also grows finely in the island of Margarita. Cotton
has hitherto been cultivated only for home consumption and the
churches and missions. The natives have but simple machines
to separate the cotton from the seed. Set Anglo-Saxon agri-
culturists to planting cotton, guided by the enlightened spirit of
the Southern planters^ with a simple system of labour^ and it will

*V%d$ Humboldt, p. 203, Personal Narrative.

itttain (as it has before) an excellence and success which will set
tdl riviurj at defiance, and will be a sure and substantial basis for
the colony's prosperity, as it was that of America formerly. "White
and peon labour will have the merit of abundance and certainty, with
an unlimited capability of being combined with steam power
machines and improved implements for saving and facilitating
labour. Even in the southern states of the United States of
America, where it was first introduced, at the close of the last
century, the production of marketable cotton up to the year 1800,
met with many detentions to its success as in that year it only
produced ybr^y thousand halea. This was caused by the want
of suitable machinery. The process was tedious, cufficult, and
necessarily expensive. The introduction of the cotton gin gave it
a new impetus; its production rose in the year 1860 to five
millions of bales, of 400 pounds to the bale, affording cheap
clothing to the whole world, and employment, certain and
remunerative, to millions in other countries, as well as in the
United States. It is not now necessary to discuss why this
material prosperity of the Southern States led to feelings of envy
and enmity in the breasts of Northerners, which have resulted in
their destruction and desolation, and have also compelled the
Southerners to accept this- magnanimous free gift of land from
the Government of Venezuela, where they hope to build up their
religious altars, and rekindle the fires of their former ambition, as
the greatest staplers of the marketable world. The Southerner is
veritably a planter : he must devote himself to pursuits for which
his habits, his education, and indeed his dignity bent him. The world
is wide, and good cotton scarce. No man grows i^withsuch skill
and such gratification to buyers. No country gives such facilities
as Venezuela to his labour. Untaxed (no duties from five to ten
years,) free imports and exports ; this &ct acts as a bounty to his
industry. British, French, and Belgian spindles will
demand his cotton. Outside of cotton growing regions (or regions
suitable for cotton and European cereals) very few Soutnem
people will emigrate. The Planter, we have seen, follows his
staple; his lines of emigration and colonization are within the
localities in which his plant had, or will become capable of producing,
a profit. In this Exodus to Venezuela, history is but repeating
herself. The great crowning inducement to the Southern^
in emigrating is that of being out of the United States, and in a
4:ountry where it is no treason to differ in opinion, as it now is in
his own country.

In those hitherto neglected regions north of the Equator,
Anglo-Saxon colonists must prosper, aided; as they will be, by in-

duBtry, eBBTgj, skilly and & detenaioad porpoeie. Th^ will build up '
cities of refiige for the fidrandless and homelras of all oonatries. It is.
QDoii these facts and these principles^ which haa a part ia a
c^ain of causes and sequences, that no human l<^c can refute nor
human wisdom prevent, that we may look forward t» the necesdiy
(real or imaginanr) which must establish Anglo-Saxon settle-
ments in Spanish America, north of the Equator. That portion o£
this ^^ Grant " Ijine south and east of the great River Orinoco, is
folly adapted to the culture of all the Southern staples. The
cotton requires planting but once in five years. It yields three
anliual crops, of various colours; sugar matures in fourteen
months, and is of a superior quaUty : l^ropean cereals give two
crops a year. This country also aboxmds in mines of every de-
scription of ore, with 404 navigable rivers, with rich forests,
and perennial pastures, capable of supporting a denser population
than any part of Europe, and it is now open and inviting emigrants
who wish to better their' condition. Tne Anglo-Saxon emigrant
bears with him there his own language, his own pursuits, his own
religion, and political institutions rounded on English law and
citizenship on taking up his share of land and settling in his new home.
Everything that free institutions can afford is held out in the way
of political privileges, and immunities from taxation and military
services, until the colony shall have been firmly established ; all these
henefits (looking to the future of those who gain their bread by the
sweat of their brow) are worth considering, when a home of 160 acres
can be had for £25, or 3s. 1 Jd. per acre. Humboldt says, " One acre
in Guayana will produce equal to 30 in England ;" he also says in
his travels through South America, that the region of 'this grant
in Venezuela " is the most fertile, rich, and enchanting portion of
America, the garden spot of the world," and exclaims on leaving it,
^' When will the cupidity of man find it out." He also pronounced it
'^ the best cotton section of the universe." The climate is healthy and
regular, longevity of life proverbial, the thermometer never exceeding
87^ or falling below 70®. There is a distinctive municipal govern-
ment, which will be morally, socially, and purely Southern in all
its characteristics, and by their energy and industry, with enter-
prise and the natural developement of the wealth of the mines, and
material resources of the country, they hope to extend agriculture,
trade, commerce, and the native manufactories, thus rendering
the state of Guayana independent in the present and great in the
future. The Company will do their shipping and trading with
England, and assist them with craft suitable for the navigation of
their own rivers. Navigable streams ramify to every point of
Guayana, to New Granada, and the remaining states of Yenezuela,

mA by the river Cassiquiari and the Rio Negro, by steam naYiga-^
tion, with the entire vaUey of the Amasson.

We have received a copy of the ratification of the '^ Grant/' by
which every emigrant gains his citizenship upon his* arrival, and i»
exempt from military duty for 10 years. The grant will be found
reprinted in these pages, together with many letters from those^
who have already settled in the new Land of Promise.

ARAYA PENINSULA, OR GOVERNMENT SALT

WORKS.

Humboldt in his ^^ Personal Narrative"* writes as follows : —
^^ The first excursion we made was to the Peninsula of Araya, on
the coast where once the celebrated pearl fisheries abounded, and
where now the salt works of the Government are in full operation.
These we wished to examine, as also to see the ruins of the Castle
of Araya, and to mi^e a few observations on the mountains that form
the narrow peninsula Maniquarez. The night was delightfully-
cool, and swarms of phosphorescent insects glittered in the air and
over the banks of the stream, covered with groves of mimosa. We
know how common the glow-worm is in Italy, but the picturesque
effect it produces there cannot be compared to those innumeraoly
scattered and moving lights which embellish the nights in these
regions. We passed the gulf of Gariaco in a spacious vessel, and
landed about eight in the morning at the point of Araya, near the
new salt works; a battery of guns defends this point; there is the
ruins of a large fort besides, called the fort of ^ St. James.' The
peons live in huts, and provisions are brought them from Cumana.
A few fishermen also live on this point. The view from the castle is
very fine ; we see at the same view, the islet of Gabagua, the lofty
hills of Margarita, the ruins of the castle of St. Jago, the Gorro de la
Vela, and the chain of mountains of the Bergantin, which bounds
the horizon towards the south. The old salt works on this peninsula
are in mins, caused many years ago by, a very rare phenomenon in
these regions, a hurricane, for the Garribbean Sea is usually as calm
as a river. Since this period, artificial reservoirs or pits have been
formed to the north of the hills, which separate the castle from the
north coast of the peninsula. The consumption of salt in Venezuela,
in 1800, was 10,000 fanegas, or 100,000 pounds, and is far more at
the present time. The use of salt is for curing meat and fish, as salt
beef^ called. ' tasajo,' is a most important article of export where
the plains abound in thousands of wild cattle. The province of
Caraccas possesses fine salt works; also Los Roques, there as the
quality of salt is finer, the prices are higher, though compensated
for by a greater purity of salt, and by the facility with which the
fishermen and farmers can procure it during the whole year. The
manufacture of salt, if properly attended to, on the coast of Yene-
zuela^ would be a very considerable branch of industry and com-

• Vide Humboldt, vol. ii., p. 247.

merce. It is the more worthy of attention from the number of salt
marshes that line the shore. The salt waters evaporate at their
surface, and crusts of salt form, in a saturated solution, and fall to
the bottom, where the crystallized masses daily augment* In the
island of Margarita, near Pampatar, salt is manunictured by em-
ploying fresh water with* which muriatiferous clay is lixiviated.
The new salt works of Araya, have eight reservoirs, the largest of
which have a regular form, and a surface of 2300 square toises, i.e^
18,800 feet. Their mean depth is eight inches. Use is made of
both rain water, which filters at the lower part of the plain, and of
the waters of the sea, which enter the pits by canals when at flood-
tide. The labourers make use of the hand pump to convey the
sea water fi'om one principal reservoir to the other, and thence to
the pits. Wind power at this point would save great labour, since
the breeze always blows strongly on these coasts. JSvaporation is ex-
tremely speedy, for, as well as by the sun, it is favoured by the con-
stant motion of the air, so that tne salt is collected in eighteen days
after the pits are filled. On the 19th of August, at three in the
morning, we found the temperature of the salt water 32** 5", while
the air in the shade was 26** 2". The salt works of Porto Cabello, in
the province of Coro, resemble those of Araya, near Gumana : but
they mix earth impregnated with muriate of soda and rain water into
smaller basins. These salt works are not considered healthy, and
therefore do not produce much salt for exportation . The salt marshes
of Venezeula were worked by the Spaniards, at the beginning of the
sixteenth century ; these salt marshes stretch away in the form of
lakes to the first hills of the coast. These salt lakes are separated
from the sea by an isthmus above the level of high water. The salt
of Venezeula is carried to the West India Islands as an export."

*^ Gem Salt is also found here, either pure or mixed with muria-
tiferous clay ; and we came to the conclusion, from strong evidence,
that if wells were dug in the muriatiferous clay, strata rich in
muriate of soda would be found. For although muriate of soda is
more carelessly manufactured in Araya, than at salt works in Europe,
still it is nevertheless a purer article and cleaner from earthy sulphates.
The whole southern shore of the vast gulf of Cariaco is impreg-
nated with muriate of soda, and so is also the clay of the peninsula of
Araya ; it there discovers itself in large crystals after rains."

^^ Alum. — In the peninsula of Araya there is a deep ravine on each
side, thickly coated with pure native alum two inches thick, as far
as the eye can reach. The alum on the surface is greyish- white,
but of a glassy lustre within ; the taste is sweet astringent without
the bitter. Fragments of alum, six inches in diameter, extremely pure
and transparent, are found. Alum is used in the country in an im-

pure state. Several places on the coast indicate beds of alum^ from
which future demand will obtain a supply."

^' Pearl Fisheries. — ^Tbe shores of the peninsula of Araya con-
tain those once * famous pearl Jisheriee.* The pearl coast pre-
sents the same appearance as the countries containing gold or
diamonds. For the pursuit of these treasures every comfort is
abandoned, which give those places a barren and uncomfortable
appearance. But even the misery is not so great there as at gold
or diamond mines, for the desire of gain is not so immoderate.
Pearls abound on the shore from Gape Paria as far as Gape Yela.
The fisheries of Margariti, GubagAa, Goche, Pdnta Araya, and the
mouth* of the Rio la Hacha^ all on the coast of Venezuela,
were once as famous as those in the Persian Gulf. It is not
true, as by some asserted, that the natives of South America
were unacquainted with pearls. The first Spaniards who landed at
Cnmana found the natives decked with necklaces and bracelets of
exquisite pearls. The island of Cache alone furnished the Spaniards,
monthly, 15,000 ducats worth of pearls; this quantity at the then
value of gold must have been considerable ; there was also a great
contraband trade in pearls. Pearls in the sixteenth century were
so much the more sought after, as the luxury of Asia had crept
into Europe in several ways, viz., through the influence of the Gru-
sades of Gonstantinople and of Granada, the residence of the Moorish
kings, who displayed at their court all the luxury of the East. The
Eastlndian pearls were considered best, but an immense trade was
commanded by the pearls of the New World. Benzoni relates the ad-
ventures of one Louis Lampagnano, to whom Charles Y . of Spain
granted the privilege of proceeding with ^ve vessels to the coast of
Oumana to fish for pearls. The natives sent back word to the emperor
* That he was too liberal of what was not his own, and that he had no
right to dispose of the oysters which live at the bottom of the sea.'
This Louis Lampagnano was a near relative of the assassin of the
Duke of Milan. The natives prevented his enterprise. He could
not repay the merchants of Seville the money they had advanced
him for his voyage ; he therefore remained five years in the island
of Gttbagna, where he died in a fit of insanity. The pearl fisheries
have been neglected for many years, and it is now the belief at
Cumana that the Pearla-aronde has greatly multiplied after a cen-
tury's repose, and may have now become as brilliant as that of
former days. This beUef is induced by the Pearla-aronde that often
adheres to the fishermen's nets off the coast. The method of pearl-
fishing may be new to some of our readers."

*^ The oyster shell that contains the pearl is in natural history
called the 'pivot,' or ^razor-shell' oyster, being in the shape of a

R 2

vedge^ and ool^ has the power of rinkine point downwardly;
from its formation it can sink deep in the sort sand at the bottom.
The only motion this oyster possesses is risinr one foot oat of the
sandy and diring the same distance down into me sand again, for it
neyer leases the spot where it first drops. Where it sinks into the
sand a small hole is made by it to breathe, and this mark to tha
diver indicates their presence ; and«when the tide goes out it is easy
to see where they are. The method of catehii^ it at low tide
is to sprinkle a little sea-salt on the little hole ; the salt melting
touches the oyster, and he raises himself up more than half way,
when the hunter must be ready to seize him or he returns deep
in the sand, whence no salt wUl ever bring him to the surface
again. It is particularly in this class of shell fish that pearls are
found in great abundance: it has a large strong white shell,
wrinkled much on the outside, but smooth and silvery within;
from this oystor the mother-o'-pearl is taken : those large slices
come off easily at certain seasons. The people who fish for pearls
are Indians, and it is surprising how long they remain under water.
Some of them can stay under water a quarter of an hour while ta
one unused to diving ten minutes would prove fatal. They fish for
pearls in a boat 28 feet long, and of these three or four hundred
are used at a time, each having eight stones for anchors. There
are five divers to each boat, who dive one after another ; they are
quite naked, except that they have a net hanging from their, necks
to hold the oysters as they get them, and gloves on their hands to
protect them from the rocks while seeking the oysters. Every
diver is let down by a rope, with a heavy stone as an anchor : he

f rasps the rope witn his left hand, and holds his nose to keep in his
reath. When he touches the bottom he walks about and picks
up the oysters, with which he fills bis net ; then he gives a signal to
be drawn up. Those in the boat pull him up, he empties his net,
and the next diver then takes his turn. They dive from 12 to 14
fathoms deep, never deeper. They generally go every morning by
day-break to their employment, taking the land breeze to wan;
them out to sea, and returning with the sea breeze at night. The
owners of the boat hire the divers and the boat hands by the day,
as we do our labourers. The oysters are all brought ashore and
laid in a heap until the fisheries are over, which occurs in November
and December, when every oyster is examined."*

* Vide Humboldt's Personal Karrative. - Vol. ii., p. 271.

POOD PBODUCTS AND OTHER USEFUL ARTICLES.

Yenbzuela is decidedly a mzixig eountrj. In many parts cattle
thrive well, and the milk and butter is of a very fine quality. The
soil is rich in pasturage. The dairy houses are built with reeds,
and separated from each other by clumps of trees, such as the
'^ flowering" Oapia, The number of species of this beautiful tree in
Venezuela is sixteen. The Tamarind, jBomboz, and other flowering
plants and trees, remarkable for their broad leaves and sweet
flowers, also form the shade of those receptacles for milk, butter,
and cheese. The milk is kept in porous earthen vessels.

''A prejudice prevalent in the countries of the north had long
led me to believe that cows under the torrid zone did not yield rich
milk. But my sojourn in Venezuela, and my extensive excursions
through that country, covered with grasses and herbaceous sensitive
plants, convinced me that the ruminating animals of Europe would
Decome perfectly habituated to the most scorching climate, pro-
vided they have plenty of water and good nourishment. The milk
of Venezuela is excellent, and the butter far better than on the
cooler ridges of the Andes, as the herbage is less aromatic there
than on the same elevation on the Pyrenees or the mountains of
Greece."*

The plains of Venezuelan Guayana abound in herds of oxen,
horses, mules, goats, and deer, thousands of which are killed
annually for their hides, tallow, and horns.

'^ The Milk Tree. — ^Venezuela possesses that remarkably nutri-
tious tree, called by the natives ' Palo de vaea^ or Cow Tree. ^ We
had heard of this tree, the juice of which is a nourishing milk,
several weeks before we saw it. The natives drink plentifully of it,
and consider it nourishing food. We had ever found the milky
Juices of plants acid, bitter, and more or less jioMonou^, and this
assertion of the natives appeared very extraordinary ; but we proved
by experience during our stay in Venezuela that the virtues of the
* ralo de vaca' had not been exaggerated. This fine tree rises like
the broad-leaved star apple. Its oblong and pointed leaves, tough
and idternate, are marked by lateral ribs, prominent at the lower
surface and parallel ; they are ten inches long. We did not see the
flower, but the fruit is fleshy and contains two nuts. When inci-
iBions are made in the trunk of this tree it yields abundance of milk,
'tolerably thick, destitute of all acridity and of an agreeable ana
balmy smell. It was offered us in a gourd or calabash shell; we

• rid$ Httmboldi

drunk considerable quantities of it in the eyenine before we
went to bed) ' and very early in the morning, wiwout feeling
the least injurious effects. The natives who work on the
plantations drink it, . dipping their bread, made of maize of
cassava, into it, thus talang their morning and evening meal.
(The major-domo of the farm told us, that the peons grow
sensibly fatter during the season, when the ^Palo'de vaca' furnishes
them with most nuJk. This milk, exposed for a time to the
air, presents on its surface a substance resembling cheese, of which
the natives are fond. If we mixed the fresh milk with a little
water, it did not coagulate at all We sent two bottles of this fkilh
to M. Fourcroj, of Paris. M. Bredemeyer, the great Germaa
naturalist, like ourselves, foimd this vegetable milk, had an aro-
matic smell and an agreeable flavour. The natives profess to
know the best trees from the thickness and colour of its foliage,
just as a herdsman distinguishes, from external signs, a good milch
cow. Amid the great number of curious phenomena which have
presented themselves to me in my travels, I confess there are few that
have had so powerful an effect on my imagination as the aspect of
the cow tree. Whatever relates to milk, whatever relates to com,
inspires in me a deep interest, which is not merely that of the phy-
sical knowledge of things, but is connected with another order of
ideas and sentiments. We cannot conceive how the human race
could exist without fiunnaceous substances; and without that
nourishing juice which the breast of the mother contains, and
which is appropriated to the long feebleness of the infant. The
amylaceous quiuity in com, which has made it the object of religious
veneration among so many nations,- ancient and modem, is diffused
in the seeds and deposited in the roots of vegetables. But milk,
which serves us as an aliment, appears to us exclusively the product
of animal organization. Such are the impressions we have received
in our earliest infancy ; such was the source of that astonishment
which seized us at the aspect of the tree just described. It was not
the solemn shades of the forests, nor the majestic course of their
rivers, nor the grandeur of their lofty mountains, that excited our
emotions. A tew drops of this vegetable juice recalled to our
minds all the powerfulness and fecundity of glorious nature."*^
When the tree is ready to be tapped, the foUa^e withers and
dries up ; if the trunk is then pierced, there flows from it a sweet
and nourishing milk. It is at the rising of the sun that thi»
vegetable fountain is most abundant. The natives are then
seen hastening from all quarters, furnished with large bowls or

* Vide Humboldt.

basins to teioeiye this milk, from which rises a yellow cream that
thickens at the sur&ce. Some of the natives eat theirs imder the
tree ; others hasten home to their children. It seemed to us like
the family of a shepherd distributing the milk of his flock. In
examining the physical properties of animid and vegetable pro-
ductS; science duplays them as closely linked together, but at the
same time strips them of the marvellous, and perhaps also part of
their charms of what excited one's astonishment. Nothing appears
isolated in nature.

"The chemical principles that Were believed to be peculiar to
ailimals, are now found to exist in plantSy forming a common
chain that links together all organic nature. It is but a few years
ago that we discovered in Europe ^ caseum/ the basis of cheese,
in the emulsion of almonds ; yet for ages past the savages of Vene-
zuela had learned to know and appreciate the milk of a tree, and
the cheese separated from that vegetable milk, which, by white
man and Indian, is considered a salutary aliment. What is the
singular cause of the unfolding of our knowledge ? How has the
imtutored savage in one hemisphere recognised what in the Old
World has so long escaped the science of the chemist accustomed
to interrogate nature, and seize her in her mysterious progress ?
It is that a small number of elements and principles aiflerendy
combined are spread through several families of plants ; it is, also,
that the genera and species of these natural families are not equally
distributed in the torrid, the frigid, and the temperate zones; and
tribes inhabiting them excited by want, and deriving almost all
their substance from the vegetable kingdom, discover nourishing

Jrinciples, farinaceous and alimentary substances, wherever nature
as deposited them in the sap, the bark, the roots« or the fruits of
vegetaDles where that amylaceous fecula, which the seeds of the cereal
plajits furnish in all its purity, is found united with an acrid, and
sometimes even a poisonous juice. But we find that savages of South
America, like the savages of the islands of the Pacific ocean, have
learned to dulcify the fecula, by pressing and separatinfi" it from its
milky juice ; yet in this cow tree there is only found we albumen
and caseum : ooth substances form food for man.

" I have endeavoured by these comparisons, to bring into consi-
deration a more general view of the milky juices that circulate in
vegetables, fruits, and palm trees. From MM. Boussingaulfs
chemical experiments, we find the constituent parts of this milk of
the cow -tree, are first wax; second caseum; third sugar ; fourth
magnesium salt; fifth water. The cow-tree should be cultivated
more extensively in Venezuela, were it only for its wax, which is
obtained by the application of sulphuric acid, and the coag^um

preoipitated is wax^ of which we made oandleS; which gav« a
bright light The wax is of a fine quality^ and could be^mia a
new source of wealth to add to the other fine agricultural pro-
ductions of Yenessuela.

^^ If the 'Palo de vaoa' disjdays to us the immense fecundity of
nature, and her beneficent bounty to the natives of the torrid zone ;
it also fayours, in those fine climates, the careless indolence of man.

The fruits of vines famish vessels for domestic use ; the calyx
of palms and the bark of trees furnish caps and garments without
a seam.

'^ We also found a milky papaw tree in Yenesuela, but this milk is
from the fruit and not the trunk as in the cow-tree. 'The
youn^r the firuit of the papaw tree, the more milk it produces.
The miit is glutinous ; and of the milk or juice the natives make
a caoutchouc or India-rubber, by dropping nitric acid (diluted with
four parts water,) drop by drop into some milk of papaw. This
produces a very extraordinary phenomena; at the centre of each
drop, a gelatinous pellicle is formed with decidedly greyish streaks;
at the next moment those pellicles become opaque, and then en-
larged by diverging fibres. The whole liquid tnen becomes like
an agate with milky clouds, it seems as if organic membranes
were forming under the eye of the observer. When the coagnlum
extends to the whole mass, by agitation it becomes granulous, ex-
posed to the sun grows yellow in three minutes ; in a ftw hours
the yellow turns to brown, and caoutchouc or India-rubber is
formed. The coagulum newly formed, when thrown into water,
softens, but only dusolves in part. The milk of the papaw tree,
mixed with water, is in an instant a tremulous mass of jelly, and
in a few hours precipitates itself into starch. This phenomena is
particularly strming; if the water employed be heated to 40^ and
even 60^. It preserves its whiteness a long time, and only grows
yellow by the application of nitric acid. In comparing the juices
of the cow tree and the papaw tree, I find great analogy between
juices which abound in caseous matter. Impermeable cloaks are
made by the natives of this, by placing a layer of milk of the
papaw between two cloths, which preparation protects the natives
from rain. In the midst of the forest, on the banks of the rivers,
as well as on the southern declivities, we find the papaw and orange
trees, with large sweet fruit. These, perhaps, are the remains of
plantations ; for in Venezuela^ the orange tree, the papaw tree^
the maize, together with cassava, and many useful plants, cannot
be classed among the indigenous plants of the country. With ^
the country of such plants \^e are unacquainted, tiiough they have
accompanied man in all his migrations from the remotest time."

^' The Bbmad Fruit Tbbb * 10 a laarge tre&f growing to die
height of 40 feet, or more. The trunk is upright, the wood softy
smooth^ and yellowish, and wherever the tree is wounded, a
glutinous fluid exudes. The branches form an ample head, almost
globular; the leaves are eighteen inches Ion? and eleven broad,
resembling those of the oak or the fig tree, in tneir deep sinuosities.
The fruit is a very large berry, with a reticulated surface,
resembling a cocoa nut or melon in girth, and is nine inches in
length. It is filled with a white farinaceous fibrous pulp, which
becomes juicy and yellow when the firuit is ripe, and the edible
portion hes between the skin, which is green, and a core in the
centre, which is about an inch in diameter;^ It is slightly sweet,
and has been compared to a cake made of flour, egg, sugar, and
butter. This tree grows in Veneasuela, and supplies the natives
with what they call cassava or bread.

The Bamboo grows in this country to the height of 40, 60, and
even 80 feet, with a hoUow stem, shining as if varnished. The stem
is eztremelv slender, not exceeding five inches in some, which are
50 feet hiffh, while others are 15 or 18 inches in diameter. The
whole is divided into joints, separated by short intervals. The ra-
pidity of its groArth is surprising. It sometimes grows three or four
inches in a day. The utility of tnis plant soon becomes conspicuous.
The soft and succulent shoots when just beginning to spring are
cut, cooked, and served up at table like asparagus. Like this
vegetable also, they are earthed over to keep them longer fit for
consumption, and they afford a supply in succession during the
whole year, though more abundantly m autumn. They are also
salted and eaten with rice, or prepared after different &shions.
As the plant grows older, a kind 01 fluid of a grateful taste and
odour is secreted in the hollow joints, affinrding a considerable
quantity of an agreeable beverage. It is highfy valuable as an
article of food, from the copious draught which a joint of the
bamboo yields, mankind are taught to use it as a vessel, and in
some places no other bucket is employed. The eastern nations
build their houses solely of this wood, without an auxiliary
substance ; if entire, it- forms posts, split up, it serves for floors and
rafters, or is interwoven in lattice work. From its extreme flexibility,
it is woven into baskets, cages, hats, and various ornamental
articles. By a particular process of bruising and steeping tiie
wood and bark, a paste is procured that is made into paper.
In shorty from its very origin until its decay, it never ceases to
produce someihiBg benefidal. It has justly Ibieen observed, ^^ All

* Eacyelopa»dia Bdiaiiaios.

68.

that composes a bamboo is profitable^ of whaterer specie it may be^
for when grown old and unfit for use, thej yield, when bumty an
abundance of potash." *

The Tamarind Tree, so useful in its salutary effect on the
invalid in fever, with its pleasant flavour, when dipped in water,
as a drink, abounds here, and forms a shade for domestic purposes^
and is remarkable for its splendid foliage and flowers.

The Bombax or *^ Silk Cotton Tree^ — ^The Bombax Geiba is
the silk cotton tree of Venezuela, the. trunk of which is often
100 feet high and of enormous thickness, so that a canoe hollowed
out of its ppongy stem will carry at once 15 or 20 hogsheads of
sugar. The trunk of this tree in its fourth year will reach two feet
in diameter, which proves the fertility of the soil for trees of
gigantic structure. It grows in the Carolinas of the United States
of America. In the hot damp lands of the Mississippi in 10 years
those trees do not exceed oneyoo^ in diameter.

GuAVA Tree. — So celebrated for the acid preserve from the
West Indies, is also a favourite of the gardens of Venezuelan
Guajana, and is remarkable for the extreme length and silvery
splendour of its numerous stamina, which are loaded with brilliant
flowers, and, when ripe and fallen, form one of th6 delicious fi*iiits
of the tropics.

Cassias Tree. — ^These trees are so abundant in Venezuela,
that in a short journey one might collect from 16 to 20 different
species of this nerbaceous mimosa.

The Ztoophtlla plant covers the land as with a carpet of
golden and purple flowers, as the heather in Scotland, making the
earth a plain oi intense verdure.

The Falms. — ^The loftiest and noblest of all forms of vegetation,
is that to which the palm of beauty has been assigned in all ages,
and among its most valued species are Plantains and Bananas.

The Plantain Tree rises with a soft green stalk to 15 op
20 feet high. The lower part of the stalk is ofi;en as large as a
man's thigh, and diminishes gradually to the top, where the leaves
come out on every side ; these are from six feet to eight feet long*,
and two feet wide. These leaves come out from the centre of the
stalk. This tree advances to maturity so speedily, tiiat you may
almost see it ^w with the naked eye; for if you draw a white cord
across a growm^ plant, from tree to tree, just above it, on a line with
the eye, in one hour the plant is an inch above the line. When fiill

goMm, the spikes of flowers appear in the centre, four feet high ; the
dt or plantain is one foot long and two inches in diameter. It is

• Vide Humbojdf 8 Personal KaxzatiTe. YoL iv. p. 212.

£rst green^ then ripens yellow ; the skin is tough, and the fruit within
of a luscious sweet flavour. One spike of fruit will often weigh
40 lbs. They are cut just before they are ripe when intended for
commerce. The natives roast the fruity as we do our potatoes^ and
eat it for bread. Even flour or hreckd to the native, would be less
agreeable^ and not so strengthening and health giving as the plan-
tsun fruit. This fruit serves to fatten cattle, swine, dogs, fowls, and
other domestic animals; the leaves being smooth and soft, are used
as a remedy for headache, and to dress and cool a blister. The
juice from the stalk is a cure for diarrhoea. Every other part of
the tree is useful to tbe natives. The leaves serve him for a table-
cloth and napkins, and afterwards for the food of hogs.

The Banana Tre£ differs from the plantain tree in many
respects. Its stalks are marked with dark purple spots ; the fruit
is shorter, straighter, and rounder ; the pulp is softer and more
luscious. It is never used green, but when ripe is eaten and
relished by all ranks of people in the country. Both trees were
brought to the Canary Islands from Guayana, and from thence to
the West Indies and the southern continent by the Spaniards. These
trees grow to perfection in ten months from their first planting to
the ripening of the fruit

The Palma be Gobija is excellent for shipbuilding. The wood
is so hard that it is difiScult to drive ^ nail into it. The leaves
folded like a fan are employed to cover the roofs of the huts scat-
tered through the Llanos, and these roofs last more than twenty
years.

The Yaboihai Palm is from 85 to 100 feet high ; the direc-
tion is almost perpendicular.

The Maurita Palm. — Bears egg-shaped fruit, whose scaly
brown and shining surfaces give them something of the appearance
of young fir cones. It is the celebrated sago tree of the Ouai/kerie
Indians.

The Periona one of the noblest of palm trees, whose smooth
and polished trunk between 60 and 70 feet high, is adorned with a
delicate flag-like foUage curled at the margin. It bears large and
beautifully coloured fruit. They resemble peaches, and are tinged
with yellow mingled with a roseate crimson. Seventv or eighty
of them form enormous pendulous bunches, of whicn eaoi tree
annually ripens three. This fine tree might be called the ^' peach
palmJ^ The fleshy fruits are from the luxuriance of vegetation
most often devoid of seeds, and offer to the natives a nutritious
&rinaceous food whioh^ like plantains and potatoes, can be prepared
in a variety of ways. South America excels the rest of the world
in the number and beauty of its palms.

The Cabbage Palm is also foond in Yendsaelay and has been
seen irom 160 to 170 feet high. It bears a fruit which has the
taste of cauliflowers and is of immense sue.

The Pirijao Palm, the fruit of which resembles an apricot in
colour and flavour.

The Ghiquiohiqui Palm. — From this tree a cordage extremely
light and durable is manufactured. It is so light that it will floaS
upon the surface of the water^ and is more dunible for the nav^;a-
tion of rivers than hemp.

The Wax Palm grows to the height of from 170 to 190 feet

The Sombrero Palm grows very slowly, but its longevity is
very great. It frequently does not reach above 14 or 18 feet in
60 years.

There are upwards of 100 species of palms which give variety
and grace to the landscape of this region of South America.

The Calabash, or Soitr-Gourd Tree, grows to the height of
12 or 15 feet, its circumference is often 60 or 70 feet, the lowest
lateral branches extend 60 feet, almost horizontally. The fimit is
pleasant, of an acid flavour, and is eaten with sugar. The pulp is
farinaceous, and a syrup made of it is used in fevers, and is also
administered in fluxes, dysenteries, &c. The natives also make
different kinds of vessels of the shells for household purposes.

Agave, or American Aloe. — ^There are nine species, their full
height is 30 feet ; they branch out on every side near the top in
form of a pyramid. The flowers come out from every joint in thick
clusters ; the seeds do not ripen in England. Many persons think
that this tree flowers at one hundred years old, this is a mistake,
its flowering depends on its growth ; in hot countries they bloom
early. The leaves serve the natives for soap and for scouring pur-
poses ; the inward pith is used for tinder. The fibres of the leaves^
when washed, dried, and beaten, form good thread.

Shirt Tree. — ^This grows to a heignt of 50 feet, and furnishes
the shirts of Marima. The natives cut off cylindrical ]^ieces, about
2 feet in diameter, from which they peel the red and hbrous bark,
without making any longitudinal incision. This bark affords them
a sort of garment, which resembles sacks, of a very coarse texture
and without a seam. The upper opening serves for the head, and
two lateral holes are cut to admit tne arms.

Fern Trees. — ^There are five kinds of fern trees. They are in
general much more rare than palm trees. They shun the son;
they love soUtary places and little light. Their foliage is deli-
cately shaped, and they look at a distance like palm trees.

Wild Silk. — ^There is a species of tree which yields this staple:
it is of a beautiful lustre, but very rough to the touch.

FOREST FRUITS IN A WILD STATE.

'^ There are many firuits gratefiil to the palate, and wholesome
withal, which are the productions of spontaneous nature. Among^
a great number, are the orange, the fig, the pine apple, the guava,
and many delicious marmalade fruits of the ^ Anona tribe,' the
sapodilla, the passiflora; also Brazil nuts, pecan nuts, cocoa nuts,.
and ' Surrawo nutSy which may be considered the most delicious
of the nut kind, and .would yield a sweet and balmy oil."*

The Fruit Fig Tree. — ^This fruit has 66 varieties, many
indigenous to the region, and all could be transplanted and culti-
yated. After giving the varieties, we will give the method of
propagating the various sorts. The common purple blue fig ripens
m August on walls or standards ; the chestnut purple fig ripens in
July ; the black Ischia ^^ ripens in August ; the Malta ^^y small
but delicious, ripens in September; the Maples fig ripens at the
end of August ; the dark Genoa fig with a bright red pulp ripens
in August. The hg may be propagated either by suckers arising
from roots or layers, or by cuttings. The cuttings are to be taken
off as low down as possible ; trim off any ragged part, then plant
in nursery rows if for transplanting. If in a place where they are
to remain, you head them 6 or 8 inches in March. The best
season for propagation of these trees by layers is in Autumn, and
up to March; choose young pliable lower shoots from fruitful
branches, lay them in the usual way, keeping the top free ^nd
entire, and they will be rooted and fit for planting. The body of
the shoot must be covered 3 or 4 inches, and if attention be given
will soon bear abundant crops.

The Bromelia or Pine Apple. — ^This fruit resembles the
cone of the pine, hence its name. The plants are propagated by
planting the crowns which grow on the fruit or from suckers. The
crowns are preferred, as arriving at maturity earlier in some
regions, but both are equally good. The crowns and suckers,
when cut for planting, must lay in a dry hot place, to Jieal and dry^
the cut placCy if it be put in the earth when first cut, it will rot y
they should be planted in rich soil, and well watered in Summer,
say twice a week. A water pot is best for watering them. When
they begin to show the fruit, they must not be removed, the per-
fection of the fruit depends on a regular growth, a check spoils it.
The plants should frequently be sprinkled with water in which

• Vide Htimboldt** Personal Narrative. Vole, iv., v., vL

tobacco stalks have been soaked, this kills the genn of the white
insect which attacks the pines, and which would soon kill them if
not strictly tended. The tan of oak bark sprinkled round each
plant will prevent the insects attacking the roots ; when a pine has
been cut for the table, from a plant intended for shoots for trans-
planting, the leaves of the old plant should be cut or trimmed off^
and watered ofben, when an abundant succession of shoots will
spring out for settings.

Orange Trees. — There are five varieties; they grow to 12 feet
high ; they have an upright trunk, oval leaves, winged foot stalks, and
numerous white flowers, succeeded by globular fruit. There are
the Seville orange, the hardiest of any; the China orange ; thin
rind and sweet, which grows out in the open ground. The
forbidden iruit^ tree produces fruit as large as a shaddock ; but &r
exceeds that as well as the best orange in flavour. These various
species can easily be reared in every garden.

Lime Trees and Lemon Trees have an upright trunk,
divided upwards into a branching head, 15 feet high, long oval
leaves. There are eleven varieties ; the sour fruit, sweetish lemon^
the imperial lemon, the pear shaped, the furrowed lemon, the
cluster fruit, the childing fruit, the tricoloured lemon, the silver
leaved lemon, the double flowered lemon. This fruit could be
made an article of commerce.

The Pomegranate Tree. — ^This fruit is greatly sought for
on account of its refreshing juice. The fruit is encased in a hard
green rind, striped with red. The fruit within is granulated and
beautifully ti-ansparent, looking gem-like.

The strawberry, the currant, and gooseberry, and all the fruits
of the temperate zone, grow in the mid region of Venezuela
Guayana. Apples, peaches, pears, and quinces grow in abundance ;
some are wild among the forest trees. Water melons grow to the
enormous weight of 50 or 70 pounds, and their meat is sweet
and refreshing ; other melons also grow luxuriously, affording the
natives refreshing succulents.

USEFUL TEEES AND GRAPE CULTIVATION.

The soil between the ranges of hill consists of a strong fertile
soil; mixed with clay and mould ; indeed it is a rich primitive soil^
retentive and springy, fitted for the cultivation of coffee. The
olive and the grape flourish on the hill sides, and experience has
proved their grapes to equal those of Madeira, and without much
labour or expense. These fertile regions have a decided advantage
over the African isles in not being subject to ^reat droughts.

Cactus. — ^The cacti are plants of a singular structure ; some-
times they are spherical, articulated, or jointed, and sometimes
assuming the shape of tall, upright, many pistiled columns, re-
sembling the pipes of an organ. The stems of the columnar
cactus rise to a height of 30 or 32 feet. When the plants are
cut through the middle their inside is a sofib pale green fleshy
substance, very full of moisture. The fruit of all the species are
eaten by the natives. The taste is agreeably acid. When one
has become accustomed to see cactus only in the hot houses, one
is astonished at the degree' of density aijd hardness which the
ligneous fibres attain in old cactus stems. Cactus wood is in-
corruptible, and excellent for oars and for the threshold of doors.

Brazil Nut Tree. — ^The tree that yields the chestnuts of
Brazil is generally not more than two or three feet in diameter, but
attains 100 or 120 feet in height. The branches are open, very
long, and almost entirely bar^ towards the base, and loaded at
the summit with tufts of very close foliage. It is not loaded with •
flowers till its fifteenth year, and they appear about the end of
March and the beginning of April. The fruits ripen towards the
end of May, and some trees retain them till the end of August.
These fruits, which are as large as the head of a child, ana are
often 12 or 13 inches in diameter, make an enormous noise in
falling from the tops of the trees. The fruit often contains from
fifteen to twenty-two nuts.

Javia Tree. — This tree grows to a height of 30 feet, and fiir-
nishes the triangular nuts called in Europe the almonds of Amazon,
or chestnuts of Brazil and the Amazon.

Igua Tree. — This tree grows to a height of 100 feet, and pre-
sents a magnificent appearance, and yields the almonds most
in request of South America.*

♦ Cyclopaedia of South America.

4 I

MEDICINAL GUMS AND OILS.*

These trees and plants^ from which medicinal substances may be
obtained^ and which at present are unheeded and unsought for by
the natives as articles oi commerce from Yenezuela, do not benent
mankind^ and may be considered buried riches. It would be vain,
in this short description of the productions of ^^The Price
Grant," and other portions of Venezuela, to attempt a descriptioa
of all the medicinal plants which abound in their dense forests.
The most remarkable ones will suffice.

Trees of the Laurel tribe are here very numerous, and are not
only important for their aromatic and stomachic qualities, but
likewise for their volatile oils. This oil, which is obtained onlif by
an incision in the bark of the tree, is a cure for rheumatic com-
plaints ; externally as a repellant liniment, internally as a diuretic
and diaphoretic. These laurel oils command in that country 14s. a
quart. Several quarts may be obtained by a single incision.

Wild Cinnamon is the bark of the Laurus CiNNAMONOiSESy
and has a warm aromatic flavour.

The Casca Preciosa is also a sweet aromatic bark, which
comes from a tree that belongs to the laurel tribe.

The Laurus Pecheri furnishes the sassafras nuts of the
London shops, and abounds in those forests. Plants and barks of
trees, of powerfiil febrifugal qualities, grow on the banks of the
rivers ; Quassia and tne JPortlandia Seanmdra are to be
obtained in great abundance. The natives set great value on the
bark of a tree which they call '^ Allisan,^^ used . by them as a
febrifuge ; and numerous others contain febrifuge properties.

Emetic Plants and Roots. — ^The violet tribe comprises a plant
which furnishes Ipecacuanha : it is caUed Jonidium parvilfornum.
The root of the Cephaclis Ipecactianha, found in the damp lands of
Venezuela, and in*the deep shaded forests of the interior, furnishes
the best Ipecacuanha. There is also a small creeping plant called
VandelUa, used by the natives as an emetic with great success.
The diuretic and demulcent powers of the Sarsaparilla are well
known, and the 8arsa de Bio Negro is most esteemed for those
purposes. Guayana possesses several kinds.

The Duraquaro, an indigenous species, is used by the natives
with great effect, and where the Sinitax Sipkilitica^ which is con-
sidered the best^ may not grow wild ; it could be cultivated with
success.

*Vide Humboldt and others.

Balsam Gopaiva. — This with many trees of the forests of
Venezuela is fitmed for its fragrant resinous juice and healing
qualities. The Balsam Gopaiva is yielded by the Oenus Oopaifera,
of which there are divers species in Guayana. The mountain
species is said to yield that substance in the greatest abundance.

The Jeica Garoni produces a substance like Gum JElemi,

The Jeica Aooushi produces the balsam that relieves the want
of hearing.

The Humirium Ploribundum produces the balsam of TJmiri,

The Amyris Ambrosiaca^ an immense tree^ yields the fragrant
resin of commerce called Oonima, and is most abundant.

The Tonquin Bean is very fragrant^ and possesses a volatile
oil; which contains a peculiar principal called conmarun. Several
species of Auoraiceae yields likewise a fragrant gum highly prized
by the Indians.

The Locust Tree of Guayana yields the ffum anime. It is
found in abundance, and might be used as a ^um lac. Several
species of the gardnia possess a splendid gamboge.

The Dali, or Vegetable Tallow Tree^ is very abundant on the
course of rivers in this country. Its seed, when immersed in boil-
ing water^ fiirnishes vegetable tallow in abundance to make candles
for the natives, and to light their mission churches. The most
prominent of those vegetable oil trees is the Grabwood Tree,
and is called by the natives Carapa Ghaanensis, and is used by
them for lamp oil and to anoint their hair. The natives press a
sweet oil from the fruits of certain palms, chiefly the following —
the Acuguou (the Astiocargon Aculeatum) and Cucurit (Falm,
Maailiana regia). Gastor oil is extracted from the castor nut^ or
the seed of Ridnus Gommunis, a native of the West Indies and
Guayana. These seeds are about the size of small beans, which,
in their brittle shells contain white kernels of a sweet, oily, but
somewhat nauseous taste.

Balsam of Tolu Tree. — ^This tree grows to a considerable
height ; it sends off numerous large branches, and is covered with
rough thick greyish barks 5 the leaves are elliptical or ovate, entire
pointed, alternate of a light green colour, and stand upon short
strong footstalks ; the flowers are numerous, the flower cup is bell-
shaped, divided at the brim into five teeth, which are nearly equal,
but one is projected to a greater distance than the others. The
balsam is obtained by making incisions in the bark of the tree, and
it is collected into spoons, from which it is poured into proper vessels.
The balsam is of a reddish yellow colour, transparent, in consistence
thick and tenacious ; by age it grows so hard and brittle that it
may be rubbed into powder between the finger and thumb. Its

smell is extremely fragrant, somewhat resembling that of lemons;
its taste is warm and sweetish, and on bein^ chewed it adheres
to the teeth. Thrown into the fire, it immediately Uqoifies, takes
fiame, and disperses its agreeable odonr. This balsam possesses the
same general virtues with the balsam of Oilead and that of Peru.

Copal is a substance of great use as a Tarnish, which is obtained
from the rhus copahnum, a tree which grows in Venezuelan Guayana.
It is a beautiful transparent resinous substance.

Peruvian Balsam. — ^A warm aromatic drug, obtained from
the tree called ^' Myroxylon," is also indigenous and propagates
from its seed. The red or brown balsam is of the consistency of
thin honey, and is obtained by boiling the wood in water. Its
principal effects are to wann the habit, and strengthen the nervous
system. It is given for asthma, dysenteries, and debilities, or
any sluggishness or inactivity of the system. Distilled in water, it is
applied externally, for cleansing and healing wouiids and ulcers,
and as a lotion for palsies and rheumatism. The white balsam is
obtained from the same tree; but only by incisions made in the
trunk of the tree at the proper season. This pure white balsam is
far more fragrant than the red balsam, and is very seldom
exported.

^Peruvian Bark or Cinchona is a well known medicine.
There are two coloured woods in this tree. The pale bark of
commerce comes in different sizes, either flat or quill shaped, and
when reduced to powder is a light cinnamon shade. The red bark
is sent in large pieces ; its powder is red like Armenian bole. It is
much more resinous, and possesses the sensible qualities of the
'^ cinchoa " in a much higher degree than the pale bark.

The Cuspa Tree of Guiana is classed under cinchona. Its
trupk rises to 20 fe^t. Its alternate leaves are smooth, entire,
and oval. At the summit the leaves are opposite each other. Its
baik is very thin, of a pale yellow, and is eminently febrifuge. It
is even more bitter than the real cinchona ; but its oittemess is less
disagreeable. The cuspa is administered with great success in a
spirituous tincture in intermittent fevers. The wood of this tree
when stripped of its bark makes fine house timber.

GuAYCJA Glue. — It is found perfectly prejMtred between the
bark and the sofb white part of a creeper. It resembles in its
chemical properties bird lime, and is equal to the best glue
extracted from the animal kingdom. Thus we find within the
tropics, in a state of purity, and deposited in peculiar organs,
substances which, in the temperate zone can be procured only by
the process of art.

The Frutta de Burro.— It is a majestic tree more than

60 feet high ; its branches are straight^ and rise in a pyramid nearly
like the poplar of the Mississippi. The tree is celebrated on
account of the use made of its aromatic fruity the infusion of which
is a powerful febrifuge.

Vanilla. — ^Venezuelan Guayana produces several species of this
plant, and it is found in large quantities along the banks of rivers
and wooded districts. It is well known that it is added to the
manufactured cocoa or chocolate to give it an aromatic flavour,
and is used often in preparation of confectionery. The seed
possesses an oily and balsamic substance of medicinal qualities. It
is easily reared ; you plant slips under the cacao trees^ weed them,
and you will have a great addition to your chocolate crop. It is
worth £9 per pound; cultivated properly, its price would be
greatly enhanced.

The Cinnamon Tree, though not indigenous to Guayana,
thrives well. The healthy state of the trees, and their luxuriant
growth, would ensure its becoming an article of commerce. The
surface of the land snould be sandy, with a stratum of rich mould
underneath. There is a wild cinnamon which the natives use as a
simple.

]n UTMEGS also grow in Guayana. The nutmegs of Trinidad, be-
fore the Society for the Encouragement of Arts were pronounced
■quite equal to the eastern production, and were awarded the gold
medal. To prove the advantages of the cultivation of this tree,
you will observe, by commercial statistics, that the average Eng-
lish demand alone is estimated at £10,000 per month. wSd
nutmegs abound in the interior, and furnish a vegetable tallow
which furnishes the natives candles ; and, with the addition of an
alkali, a soap is formed of the finest balsamic quaUty.

Pepper and Allspice. — ^Pepper could be cultivated with
great success in Guiana, in the rich soil on the declivities of moun-
tains and the valleys, as well as on the trees that border the rivers ;
these vines trail against other trees, and could be raised with nut-
meg and cinnamon trees. The pepper plant bears abundantly j a
full grown vine has been known to produce seven pounds : the
average is, however, for 800 vines, about 450 pounds.

Allspice Tree. — Grows 30 feet high and 2 feet in circum-
ference. The branches are near the top much divided, and thickly
beset with leaves. Their continual bright verdure gives the tree a
lovely appearance ; the flowers are produced in bunches, and stand
upon subdivided stalks. The germen becomes a round succulent
berry, containing two kidney-shaped flattish seeds ; it flowers in
June, July, and August, when the air is redolent with an aromatic
fragrance. The berries, when ripe, are of a dark purple, and filled

F 2

with sweet pulp, of which the birds are very fond. They deyonr
the fruit, dropping the seeds, and thus propagate allspice trees
in all parts ot the woods.

Cardamons are a production of a plant of the same species as
ginger, and might be cultivated with that aromatic root, as
well as the turmeric or curcuma ; the latter of which is not only
esteemed for aromatic and stimulating properties, but is likewise a
dye.

The Ginger of South America and the West India Isles is
considered superior to that of the east, and may be very important
to commerce.

Haiowa, or Incense Tree, perfumes the forest with its saluti-
ferous balsam ; and the great Siruba tree, by incision, produces
a camphoraceous etherial fluid, a product which, so fer as we
know, is without a parellel in nature. No soil can be more con-
genial for the produce of dates, figs, olives, and grapes of a superior
quality, as was proved by the missionaries of the Caroni, as well as
lor every variety of aromatic spiceries.*

Vide Humboldt and Scliombergh.

DYE WOODS.

The woods that furnish dyes are abundant. TTie Brazil wood, log-
woods of various hues, ^q fustic tree (the Genipa Americana) or
black dye, serada or maparakuniy a deep red dye, and the useful
anottaj are all indigenous, and thrive without care ; the bignonia-
chica affords a similar dye to annota, and yields an abundant supply.
Its resin when wounded is of a bright orange dye. There is a
tree called " Jacaranda ovali,** that cures cutaneous diseases. A
decoction is given inwardly, with which the patient is also washed
outwardly; it is considered a perfect remedy for eruptions of
the skin.

Dragon's Blood is derived from various palm woods; fine
dragon's blood from every gum palm breaks smoothly and freely.
It is free from any visible impurities, of a dark red colour, and
changes to an elegant crimson when powdered. A solution of
dragon's blood in spirits of wine is used for staining marbles, and
gives them a rosy tinge, which penetrates more or less deeply,
according to the heat of the marble during the application. For
fine designs the marble should be cold, and the colour may be
heightened by adding a little pitch to the solution.

Brazil Wood is also a dye of a beautiful red colour. The
wood itself is very hard and heavy, but takes a beautiful polish.
There are nine species, the most remarkable of which is called
^' Quayana BrazitletoJ' It grows to a great height. The wood
is and has been in such demsmd by the dyers of Europe, that the
colonies of Great Britain cannot supply the demand, while the
forests of Venezuela abound in trees of this species, only waiting
the woodman's axe. The flowers are white withyellow centres,
growing in a spike form on a long slender stalk. Tne pods enclose
several small round seeds. The colour produced from this wood is
greatly improved by a solution of tin in " aqua regia"

Anotta or Bibax Tree. — ^A tree common in Guayana. The
4ve made fr^m a pulp reduced from the seeds of this tree is of an
cdegant orange red colour. The manner of making anotta is as fol-
lows : — The red seeds, cleared from the pods, are steeped in water
for eight or ten days, until the liquor begins to ferment. It is
then stirred, and stamped with beaters to separate the red skin
from the seed. This process is repeated several times. The liquor
then passes through fine sieves made of cane ; it is quite thick and
glutinous, and of a deep red colour. In boiling it throws up a
tMdc scum, which is stdmmed, and afterwards boiled down by

itself to a dne consistency, and made up while warm into balls. It
is acted upon by water with great difficulty, and only tinges the
water slightly. In rectified spirits of wine, it yields a fine yellow
red orange colour. It is used to heighten all yellows. AlksJine
salts rendef it perfectly soluble in water, without changing the
colour. Cotton^ wool, silk^ and Gloucester aad Somersetshire
cheeses are coloured by this dye. The natives set great store by
this pigment, which in Guayana, when reduced to powder, is made
up into pigments with turtle egg oil^ the cakes or balls weighing
four ounces. The Indians prefer the substances which produce the
red colours, although many of the men paint themselves (or have
it done) in jackets of blue with black buttons, and red trousers."
This toilet will take a man two or three days to accomplish, when
we may conclude that he fancies himself quite a swelL

BiGNONiA Chica is a shrub of Guayana producing a deep rich red
pigment. This vine climbs up and clings by the aid of tendrils
to the tallest trees. Its trumpet like flowers form in threes, and
are of a fine violet colour. It is from its wing-like leaves that this
pigment is prepared. This vine grows spK)ntaneousIy in great
abundance ; the iruit forms in pods 2 feet long, and contain Wing
shaped seeds. This red pigment is not obtained from the firuits of
the chicoy like the anotta, but from its numbwless leaves macerated
in water. The colouring matter separates in the form of a light
powder ; it is collected and formed into little loaves, 9 inches long
ahd 8 inches high, with water, and not oilj as in the pigm^it
anotta. These loaves when heated emit an agreeable odour, when
the chica is distilled it betrays no ammonia ; it dissolves slightly in
sidphuric acid, and even in alkalies ; ground in oil it furnishes a
pure lake colour ; applied as a dye to wool, it ffives a beautiful
Ldder red. Th4 pf^ent is re^ Uttle kno;n S Europe, either
as a dye or for artistic purposes, and from the permanence of its
colour, it is to be hoped it may in future be employed usefully in the
arts. The tribes of civilized Indians prepare this pigment to
paint their bodies. This vine does not grow near the coast, but in
the higher regions. The natives in the Upper Orinoco trade in
this red pigment with the tribes of the Lower Orinoco ; for it is
remarkable that all Indians, either civilized or savage, adorn their
bodies with pigments of their own manufacture. The Carribbees
and Otomack of Guayana paint only their head, face, and hair with
chica, but the Salivas tribes of the Upper Orinoco possess this
pigment in sufficient abundance to paint their whole bodies. When
the Missionaries send their own cargoes of cacao, coffee, and a
cordage of rope, made for navigation, and manufactured by tibe
Indians of the foot stalk of the leaves of the palm called

cMquichiqui, they always add a few leaves of chiea, which is an
article of great demand on the Lower Orinoco. There is also
another red dye procured from the bark of a tree called
macrocnemum. The Maypures Indians carry on a trade of barter
with little loaves of a pigment called punima^ which is a vegetable
fecalum, dried and manufactured in the manner of indigo^ and
yielding a very permanent yellow colour. The chemistry of the
savage is reduced to the preparatioti of pigments and medicinal
decoctions of barks and roots. The supposition may arise that the
nse of those pigments among the Indians is caused by a desire of
pleasing, as is their taste for ornaments, which generally consist of
rings, feathers, shells, and bones.

Cochineal. — The fly, called cochineal, so useful in dyeing, and
without which artists would despair of adding brilliancy to their
colouring ; is ever found in the country of ^^ the cactus," upon
which it feeds and perfects its colour. This insect is of an oval
form, of the size of a small pea, with six feet and a snout. They
bring forth their young alive ; these get nourishment by sucking the
juices of the cactus upon which they crawl. Its body consists of
several rings, and when fixed on a plant it remains there, being sub-
ject to no cnange. The natives who take care of these insects, place
them on the cactus plant in a certain order, and defend them from
the approach of other insects, brushing them away with a brush of
feathers, or tails of animals ; before the rainy season sets in, the
natives cut the leaves ofl^, at the trunk of the tree, that are covered
with the cochineal not yet perfected, and keep them in their houses
until the rains are passed. When the bright days return, it is the
season for excluding their young ; the natives make little nests of
cocoa-nut fibre, and hang them all over the cactus branches,
placing twelve flies in each nest. In a few days the young flies
are seen crawling over the cactus leaves, until they find a proper
place to rest on. The cocliineal of commerce is only the
female fly. The males are a sort of fly like a gnat, with six
feet, and the body is entirely covered with two transparent wings,
they are restless insects, leaping about like fleas. When the na-
tives s^ther the cochineal they dig a hole in the ground, where they
put them and pour boiling water over them, afterwards drying
them in a slow oven, when they are ready for market. They are
used for dyeing, medicine, and also constitute the beautiful colour
which artists call carmine.

TREES USEFUL FOR MANUFACTURE, &c.

The yegetation of the interior of these provinces contain treasures,
which need only be developed to ensure the welfare of millions,
and to administer to the comforts, necessaries, and elegancies of
mankind in general. The beautiful timber which abounds in the
vast forests, and covers thousands of acres, has been acknow-
ledged, by competent judges, to surpass the East India teak and
Aincan oak. vessels buflt of indigenous woods are of a superior
description as regards durability and strength. The two most
noted for ship building are the "mora^* and ^^ greenheart.^^ The
first is called ^^ mora exceUaj'* and is one of the trees most abimd-
ant ; its crooked timbers form admirable knees, and the finest stems
for vessels of any size. Also valuable pieces for keels, kelsons,
stemposts, floors, beams. Ac. The close nature of its wood, which
never splits, recommenos it for bulwarks of men-of-war, bomb-
vessels, gunboats, gun carriages, and mortar beds. The red cedar,
which grows 80 feet high, is suitable for masts and spars of vessels.
The forests are also rich in woods adapted for cabinet work, turnery,
and ornamental purposes, many of w4h are at present entirely ui^
known to the cabinet makers of Europe. There are beautifiil red and
golden-coloured woods, besides the purple and variegated woods,
of which furniture is made by the natives, and the elegant appear-
ance of these woods in a great measure hides the want of taste in
the execution of such furniture.

Pre-eminent among these ornamental woods stands the beautiful
Letterwood, which, in elegance of appearance, and the readiness
with which it takes polish, ranks above all others.

The Mahogany grows wild in the forests of Guayana, and
reaches an immense height, perfectly straight, and attains a size of
4 feet in diameter. It is very hard, and admits of a fine polish.
It is said that ships built of this wood resist cannon balls \ or should
the balls pass through they occasion no splinters.

LiGNUMViTJE is a native of South America, where it becomes
a large tree, having a hard brittle brownish bark, not very thick.
The wood is firm, solid, ponderous, and very resinous, of a blackish
yellow in the middle, and of a hot aromatic taste. From this
species is obtained a resinous gum, called guartacumy which exudes
spontaneously ; this substance has been long known and celebrated
as a medicine in various cases.

Crecopia, or Trumpet Tree, of these forests, which by the
disposition of its branches and its slender trunk somewhat resembles

diepoH pahn : it is covered wilih leavee like silyer. The roots of
this tree are hid under the tufts of dorsteniaf which flourish in
shady places. This tree rises usually to 40 feet. The lovely
trumpet-like flowers rise in a stalk, eacn having two stamens. They
are aromatic in perfume, and the silver leaves and blue flowers
combine to form a lovely ornamental tree.

Gapparis, or Caper Tree, is a polyandria class more in form
of shrubs than high trees. There are twenty-five species; they
spring from old walls and grow luxuriously round gardens. The
leaves are simple in the berry-bearing sorts, having two spines at
the base, but in those species bearing pods for the fruit, have
leaves bi-glandular. They flower in dusters or great bunches,
terminatiDg some in pods tor the finiit and others in berries. The
flruit is pickled in good vinegar. They are an article of commerce
and for domestic cookery, and are supposed to excite appetite and
assist digestion ; they are also used in these countries as detergents
and aperients, in obstruction of the liver and spleen.

The Ebony Tsses of Venezuelan Guayana are of two species,
the black and white ebony, both susceptible of the highest polish.
When the natives cut down a black ebony tree they lop off its
branches and bury its trunk for a time in earth to increase its
blackness and to prevent its splitting when wrought. Black ebony
wood is much preferred to that of otfiers, as there are red and green
ebony also. The tree grows to a great height, with an immense
trunk; its bark is black, and its leaves, of a deep dusky green, re-
semble those of the myrtle. The best ebony may be Imown by its
jet black colour, free from veins and rind ; it is very massive, astrin-
gent, and of an acrid pungent taste. Its rind infused in water is a
Eurgative medicine. It yields an agreeable odour when laid on
uming coals when green ; it readily takes fire from the resinous
qualities it possesses. The savages made for their tutular deities
and kings sceptres of this wood.*

It may be an object of high importance to establish a ship-
building yard on the Orinoco, in the vicinity of those regions,
where the following ship timber abounds. Venezuela furnishes
the following trees» of which in particular, and only of a few of
the most vamable timber trees which are best known to travellers
and the natives, we shall treat briefly.

The Mora (Mimosa sp.). — This wood is the same as the
celebrated teah of the JSJast Indies^ and equal, if not superior, to
oak. It is not subject to dry rot in the tropics at least. It can
be obtained in lengths of from 80 to 50 feet, and squaring from 14

^ Vide Hiamboldt, iv. and v. vols. P. N.» and EncydopsBdia Britannioa.

to 24 incbes. The crooked timbers of this tree would be invaluable
in ship building for keels, knees, and planking upper works of
}a^ vessels.

The Sawary {Fehea tuberevHoso Anb%). — ^This tree has nearfy
tbe same qualities and nature as the above, except that it cannot
be obtained in such lengths, but is in many other respects equally
eligible, and usually squares something larger.

The Bully Tree (Aehraa halata). — This tree is of a dark purple
hue, hard, and well calculated for beams, posts, or uprights, &c.
It can be obtained of various lengths, wul square from 12 to
22 inches, and is from 80 to 40 feet long.

The Sibwaballi {Fam Laurinea or Ocatea). — Of this tree
there are three or four different species. One (the yellow sirtihulh/)
is the rosewood, or hois de rosa^ which exhales a fragrant odour.
These trees are of lighter wood than l^ose above described;
they are remarkable for a peculiar aromatic bitterness which they
contain, that acts as a preventive to an attack of sea worms ; this
is the wood of all others for planking craft of all kinds. This
wood is so light that it floats.

The Purple Heart is a tree of the largest size. Its wood is
used for furniture in consequence of the beauty of its colour and
durability. Its elasticity is very great At the siege of Fort
Bourbon, Martinique, this wood stood the testy while all others
iailed as mortar beids. The Indian name is mari-toaycma. They
take off the entire bark of this tree when fresh cut down, and with
very little trouble convert it into a canoe, called a wood-shin. Some
of these are large enough to carry 25 persons on smooth water.

The Eajcaballi. — ^This tree is plentiful, and may be had from
6 to 14 inches square, and from 30 to 40 feet long. It is greatly
preferred by the Indians for vessels, as the barnacle and sea worm
never attack it.

The Wamara. — May be had from 6 to 12 inches square, and
80 feet to 40 feet long. It is hard and cross grained, and not apt
to split, consequently fine naval timber.

The Determa is very plentiful, squaring from 6 to 20 inches,
and from 30 feet to 60 feet long. With this wood copper and not
iron nails should be used in building vessels as iron corrodes. This
wood is very durable.

The Goubaballi is close and fine-grained, and is used for fur-^
niture. It takes a beautifiil polish ; squares from 6 inches to 15
inches, and from 20 feet to 35 feet long.

The Wallaba is very abundant; it is a red wood, splits easily,,
and is used for staves of barrels, and shingles for houses, bams, &c.
It possesses an oil resin, tlie use of which is yet unknown*

The Cuamara, or Tonkist-bban^ is nolf only very valnable for
its seeds, but is a useful timber tree, fitted for anything, where
^eat pressure is the object. It is very hiffd, and it has been
thoroughly ascertained, that one square inch of a given leng^
bears one 100 pounds more of pressure than any other wood.

The CACAUA,or Tonkin'^eauj abounds in "Venezuela. It is very
durable, and possesses a resin whiolk is odorous. It grows to a
height of 80 feet, and is highly recommended for masts and spars*
The bark is red and astringent.

The Hucouya, or Cedar-wood, — ^This tree grows to the height
of 50 feet, is very hard, and Uke dark walnut, and is used for
lining the interior of houses.

The Si-to-oh-balli, or Letter^wood, is the most costly and
beautiful wood of the tropics. It is of a beautiful brown colour, with
hiero^lyphical black spots. It is adapted for elegant and expen-
sive mrniture. It attains from 15 to 20 inches in circumference.

The Ducali-balli. — ^This is another of the same family as the
above, and is used for ornamental furniture. It is of a rich brown,
spotted like a leopard-skin, and bears a high polish.

The Simiri, or locust tree, — ^This tree grows 80 feet hirfi, and
firom 7 feet to 8 feet in diameter. This is also ornamentsd wood,
takes a fine polish, is very durable, and when tapped yields a fine
resin (gum anime) very like copal.

The Bisi is a gigantic tree ; its wood very durable, and it yields
a green resin, which makes a beautiful varnish.

The Yari-yari, or Lance-wood^ is a tall slender tree, of great
toughness and elasticity. The natives make their arrows of it, and
it is suitable for spars and shafts for carriages : profitable for ex-
portation to Europe.

The Yaruri-massari, or Paddle-wood. — The whole tree, 6 feet
in diameter, for 50 feet up to its first branches, has the appearance
of a fluted column. Of tnis the natives make their padmes ; the
wood is light, elastic, and very strong. It might prove useAil for
gun carriages and bulwarks of vessels, as it never splinters. Also
the SouABi, a tree of the largest size, used for ship-building. It
yields, by incision, a camphorous gum.

The Aitapaima abounds in rocky districts, is of the largest
size, hard wood, and highly aromatic, and is used by the natives in
fever and dysentery very successfully.

The Crab-tree. — This tree grows tall and straight, is of
a light red colour, and would be useful for masts, spars, flooring,
and partitions. .

The Tat aba grows tall, is of a large size, and is well adapted
for mill-timbers, gun-carriages, and ship-building.

The preceding list of woods soitable for sliip-baildine, fiimitiire^
tmd nmnafactares^ are only those hwi knoton to the inhabitants of
Venezuela ; but there are numerous other trees equally useful^ but
unknown to European oommerce.

For tannings there are many barks and hearts of trees used with
great success. The bark of the Aviceknia^ the Malpighia,
quite equal to oak hark, also the heart of the MorA; and many
others for the same purpose."*

BUILDING STONE.

The building stones of Venezuela are : stratified sandstone^ com-
posed of very fine grains^ united by a calcareous cement ; schistose
sandstone without mica^ and passing into slate clay which ac-
companies coal^ a blueish grey limestone, almost destitute of
petrifactions, and traversed by small veins of calcareous spar,
analogous to the limestone of the high Alps; white shelly lime-
stone, in which are found some scattered veins of quartz ; a blueish
grey compact limestone ; granite with horn-blende, which is the
most used for building purposes.

Potteries. — ^The potteries of Venezuela are celebrated from
time immemorial. The fabrication is still carried on according to the
method used before the Conquest. Three centuries have been
insufficient to introduce the potter's wheel. The clay is produced
by the natural decomposition of mica slate reddened by oxide of
iron. The natives prefer the part most abounding in mica.

* 8e$ John Hancock, H.A., on British Ghiiana and Venezuela,
t Vide Htimboldt.

MINES IN VENEZUELAN GUAYANA,

The worldng of the mines of Venezuela has been very much^
negjiected^ and has not been much developed.

Since 1855 the gold mines have again oeen worked, but without
regard to ff^stem or method. The most diflScult part of the work
has heretofore been performed without the aid of machinery or
scientific direction, the physical strength of man alone directing it.

The mineral wealth of Venezuelan Guayana is immense, and
notwithstanding the great disadvantages under which the goM
mines were worked, for the want of machinery, etc., they have
yielded as much as 2000 ounces of gold per month. A quantity of
quartz from the poorest of the mines was sent to tlie United States
of America, and were examined by Messrs. Eiesa and Theabaut,
and the result was $300 (equal to about £60) per ton. A short
time after, Mr. Carlos Hahn sent to London some new specimens
of quartz, which were examined, and the result, as published in
the Daily News of London, January 19th, 1863, was as follows : —
'^ The gold quartz exposed from that section of Venezuela, which
occupied the pubhc attention at the Exposition, contained 80 lbs.,
a little more or less. The sack which contained it was selected for
the experiment from among twenty-two, which together weighed
3300 lbs., and was selected before being opened at the Exposition.
An examination was made of three pieces from the sack, two of
80 lbs., and the . third was selected oy the guide, and weighed
10 lbs. Of the two first, one produced 6J ozs. per ton, the
other over 9 ozs., and the third the famous value of £200 sterling
per ton.*? The certificate of the assay er demonstrated, that each
ton of quartz produced on the average 16 ozs. of gold, and 2 ozs.
of silver. The wealth of the mines can only be determined by
well-directed attempts, by means of shafts and galleries, and by the
introduction of proper machinery. All that has been done so far
has left the question wholly undecided.

The existence of metallic veins in Venezuelan Guayana cannot
be doubted ] grains of gold are found in the whole mountainous
territory of Venezuela. Mines of gold and silver were worked at
the beginning of the Conquest. Indian gatherers have sometimes
found lumps of gold 15 ozs. or 16 ozs. in weight.

The Spaniards in the year 1551 wrought the gold mine of
Buria, which was the cause of the foundation of the town of
Barquismeto.

From the promontory of Paria to beyond Cape Vela, the early

nayifi^tors found ornaments of gold oq, and gold dost among the
inhabitants.

It is certain that long before the Conquest^ grains of gold were
a medium of exchange among the natives. They gave gold to
purchase pearls ; and it does not appear extraordinary, that after
having for a long time picked up grains of gold in the rivulets^
natives enjoying fixed habitations^ and devoted to agriculture^
should have tried to follow the auriferous veins in the superior
surface of the soil.

The mines of Los Teques could not be peacably wrought till
the defeat of the Cacique Guaycupuri^ a celebrated chief of the
Teques^ who long contested with die Spaniards the possession of
the province of Yenezuela. From several geological indications there
exists two groups of auriferous alluvial land ; one between the sources
of t^e Hio r^egro^ the Uaupes, and the Iquiare ; the other between
the sources of the Essequibo^ the Caroni, and the Supumeri Rivers.

The gold mines of Caratcd and Ouasipati on the Garoni River, a
short distance from Las Tabkts, have lately been discovered. They
are rich in gold, both in abundance and quality. The quality of
the gold is 24 carats, a quality that neither California nor Australia
possesses. The deposits of iron and copper are also very great in
Venezuelan Guayana^ but thus far undeveloped ; mercury and lead
have been found, but not yet worked.

Silver, tin, coal, soda, native alum, gem salt, sulphur, asphalte,
and petroleum have been found in Venezuela. The coal is said to
be excellent and abundant in many of the coal districts, and is equal
to the best English Cannel coal.

The copper is of an excellent quality, and is even preferred to
that of Sweden and of Coquimbo in ChSi.

THE ANIMALS USEFUL IN VENEZUELA.

The Manati is found in the Orinoco river. This mammal may be
indiscriminately called the last of beasts or the first of fishes. It
cannot be called a quadruped, nor can it entirely be termed a fish;
it partakes of the nature of the fish by its two feet or hands^ but
the hind legs, which are almost wholly concealed in the body of
the seal, are entirely wanting in the manati, which has only a thick
tail, spread out broad like a &n. It is a very clumsy and mis-
shaped animal, the head of which is thicker than that of an ox,
the eyes small, and the two feet or hands placed near the head,
for the purpose of swimming. It has no scales, but is covered with
a skin, or rather a thick hide, with a few hairs or bristles. It is a
peaceable animal, and feeds upon the herbage by the river sides,
without entirely leaving the water, swimming on the sur&ce of it
to seek its food. The hunters practice the following method of
taking the manati ; they row themselves in a boat or rafb as near
the animal as possible, and dart a very strong lance into it^ to the
end of which a very long cord is fastened; the manati feeling itself
wounded, instantly swims away, or plunges to the bottom, but the
cord which holds the lance has a piece of wood festened to the end
of it, to serve as a buoy. When the animal begins to grow faint
and weak through the loss of blood, he swimA to shore ; the cord
is then wound up, and the animal drawn within arm's length of the
boat, where it is despatched in the water by strokes of me oar or
lance. It is so heavy as to be a sufficient load for two oxen to
draw ; its flesh is excellent eating, and tastes very much like veal.
Prom the fat an oil is made, which is very ffood for burning pur-
poses, and whips are made firom the hide. Some of these animals
measure, more than 15 feet in leftigth by 6 feet in breadth ; the
body becomes narrower towards the tail, and then spreads gradually
broader towards the end. As the Spaniards give the appellation
of hands to the feet of quadrupeds, and as this animal has only fore
feet, they have given it the name of manati («. e,) an animal with
hands. The female has breasts placed forward like those of a
woman, and she generally brings lorth two young ones at a time,
which she suckles. It is most probable that this animal has given
rise to the popular fables of mermaids, its breasts and hands
bearing some resemblance to those of a woman when it raises
itself up in the water, and is only seen from a distance. It is not
properly speaking amphibious, since it never entirely leaves the
nvater, having oidy two flat fins, close to the head, about 16 inches
long, which serve the animal instead of arms and hands. The eyes

of the animal have no proportion to the size of its body ; the orifices
of its ears are minute^ and only seem like holes made by a pin.

The Tapir is the next largest animal in South America, where
living nature seems to be lessened, or rather has not had time ta
arrive at its greatest dimensions. The tapir is of the size of a
small cow, but without horns, and without a tail; the legs are
short ; the body crooked, like that of the hog ; he wears in his
youth a coat like that of the stag, and afterwards uniform spots
of a dark brown colour ; his headis thick and long, with a kind
of trunk, like the rhinoceros ; he has ten incisor teeth and ten

?rinders in each law; a character which separates him entirely
x>m the ox and other raminatmg animals, the ta^iir appears to
be a dull and dark animal, who never stirs out but in tne night,
and delights in the water, where he oftener lives than upon land.
He seldom goes far from the borders of rivers or lakes. When
he is threatened, pursued, or wounded, he plunges into the water,
and remains there till he has got to a great distance before he re-
appears. These customs, which he has in common with the
hippopotamus, have made some naturalists imagine him to be of
the same species ; but he difPers as much from him in nature as he
is distant from him in climate. To be assured of this, there needs
no more than to compare the description we have given with that
of the hippopotamus. Although the tapir inhabits the water, he
does not feed upon fish ; and although nis , mouth is armed with
twenty sharp and incisive teeth, he is not camiverous ; he lives
upon plants and roots, and does not make use of what nature has
armed him with against other animals. He is of a mild and timid
nature, and fiies from every attack or danger ; his legs are short
and his body massive ; notwithstanding which he runs very swiftly,
and swims still better than he runs. He commonly goes in
company and sometimes in droves. His flesh is of a very firm
texture, and so bound together, that it oft^n resists a bullet ; it is
insipid and coarse ; nevertheless the Indians eat it.

The Peccary, or Mexican Hog. — ^Among the animals of Vene-
zuelan Guayana we meet with few species more numerous^ or more
remarkable, than that of the peccary, or Mexican hog. At the
first glance this animal resembles the wild boar, and is like our
domestic hog, or nothing more than a variety of the wild boar or
wild hog ; and for this reason it has been called the wild boar or
hog of America. The peccary however is of a distinct species,
and differs from the hog in a number of characteristics, both ex-
ternal and internal. It is less corpulent, and its legs are shorter ;
in the stomach and intestines there is a difference of conformation }
it has no tail, and its bristles are much stronger than those of the

wild boar. The peccary may be rendered a domestic animal like
the hog^ and bas pretty nearly the same habits and natural in-
clinations. It feeds upon the same aliments^ and its flesh is excellent.
These animals are extremely numerous in Venezuelan Guayana.
They generally go in. herds of two or three hundred together, and
unite like hogs in defence of each other. In its native country the

Eccary is rather fonder of the mountainous parts, than of the low and
irel grounds : it seems to delight neither in the marshes nor the
mud like our hogs ; it keeps among the woods, where it subsists
upon wild fruits, roots, and vegetables. It kills and eats snakes, i

The peccary, hke the hog, is very prolific ; the young ones
follow the dam, and do not separate from her till they have come
to perfection. If taken at first they are very easily tamed, and lose
all their wildness; however, tbey never display any remarkable
signs of docility. They seldom stray &r from home ; they return
of themselves to the stye, and da not quarrel among each other,
except when they happen to be fed in common.

The Chiquibe, or fVUd Pig, is fouod in Venezuelan Guayana.
It is the thick-nosed tapir of the naturalists. They live fifty and
sixty together, in troops, on the banks of the river. They are as
large as our pigs, and have no weapons of defence ; they swim
somewhat bettei* than they run. They breed with astonishing
rapidity.

The Guiitea Hoa is nearly of *the same figure as our hog, but
much smaller. It is a native of Guayana ; it is domestic and tame ; its
hair is short, red, and glossy ; it has no bristles, not even on the
back ; the tail only, and the crupper near the tail, are covered
with longer hair than the rest of the body ; its head is not so large
as that of our hog ; its ears are very long, and turned backwards
over its neck ; its tail is much longer, almost touching the ground ^
and it has no hair towards its extremity."*

'* The Guinea Pig. — Though originally a native of Brazil and
Guayana lives, however, and breeds in temperate and even in cold
countries, provided it is properly taken care of. Those which are
kept in houses have nearly the same taste as the house rabbit.
The growth of these animals is not entirely completed till the
expiration of eight or nine months ; though, indeed, it is in apparent
bu&c.and fat that they chiefly increase till then; the developement
of the solid parts being finished before the age of five or six
months. The female never goes with young above three
weeks ; and she has been known to bring forth when onlv two
months old She does. not suckle her young longer than twelve or

*ri4foBaiQn,Tol.i.

fifteen days. Thus these animals produce at least every two months.
The Guinea pig feeds ontdl sorts of herbs, and especially on parsley,
which it prefers even to bran^ flour^ or bread. It whines somewhat
like a young pig.

The Armadillo. — Under the general name of Armadillo, we
may reckon several species which seem to us really distinct ; in all
of them the animal is protected by a crust resembling bone; it
covers the head, the necK, the back, the flanks, Ihe buttocks, and
the tail to the very extremity. This crust is covered outwardly
by a thin skin, sleek and transparent ; the only parts that are not
sneltered by this buckler are the throat, the breast, and the belly,
which present a white grainy skin, like that of a plucked fowl : and
in considering these parts with attention, you will perceive the
appearance of scales, which are of the same substance as the
crust. This crust is, however, not of one piece as is that of the
turtle ; it consists of several joined to each other by as many
membranes, which put this armour in motion. Father de Abbeville
has distinguished six species of the Armadillo, but the principal
diflerence Detween them consists in the number of bandsl The
Armadillos in general are innocent harmless animals; if they can
penetrate into gardens they will eat melons, potatoes, pulse, and
roots. They walk quickly, but they can neither leap, run, nor
climb up trees, so that they cannot escape by flight ; they hide
themselves in their holes or subterraneous habitations. In order to
take them without mutilation the burrow must be opened, they are
then caught without making any resistance. When they find
themselves in the hands of their pursuers, they roll themselves up
into a ball, and are placed near the fire to force them to stretch out
their coat of mail. . Some pretend that they remain under g^und
above three months without venturing out; it is true that they
remain in their holes in the day time, and never go out but in the
night to seek for their subsistence. The ArmadiLb is hunted with
small dogs, who soon overtake him ; but he stops before they have
reached him, and contracts himself; in this condition he is taken
and carried ofl: If he find himself on the brink of a precipice
he escapes the dogs and the hunters by rolling himself up and
letting himself fall down like a ball without injury or prejudice to
his scales. These animals are fat and very prolific ; the female
brings forth, as it is reported, four young ones every month, which
makes their species very numerous. They are good to eat, and are
easily taken with snares laid for them on the banks of rivers, and
in the marshy grounds which they inhabit in preference. The
Indians apply their scales to diflerent purposes, and make of them
baskets, boxeS; and other light and solid small vessels. The

Armadillo is only found in Onayana and other portions of South
America.

The Paca, or Spotted Cavy is an animal found in Guayana and
other portions of South America^ that digs a burrow like a rabbity
to which it has been compared, though there is scarcely any like-
ness between these two animals. It is much larger than the
rabbity or even than the hare ; it has a round head and the snout is
short ; it is fat and bulky^ and in the form of its body it is mo)*e
like a pig^ as well as in grunting^ waddling^ and the manner of
eating, mr it does not use, as the rabbit does, its fore feet to carry
food to its mouth, but grubs up the earth like the hog to find its
subsistence. These animals inhabit the banks of rivers ; their flesh
is very good to eat, their skin also is eaten like that of a pig ; a
perpetual war is therefore carried on against these animals. Hunters
nnd it very difficult to take them alive, and when they are
«urprised in their burrow, which have two openings, they defend
themselves, and bite with great rage and inveteracy. Their skin,
though covered with short and rough hair, is valuable, because it is
lotted on the sides. These animals bring forth young in abund-
ance ; men and animals of prey destroy a great quantfP^ of them,
and yet the species are still numerous. They are peculiar to South
America, and are found nowhere in the Old Continent.*

The Couando, or Brazilian Porcupine. — ^This animal is found
in Brazil and Guayana. It is not, however, a porcupine, being
much less in size ; its head and muzzle are shorter ; it nas no tuft
on its head, nor slit in the upper lip ; its quills are somewhat
shorter and much finer ; its tail is long ; it is carnivorous, and
endeavours to surprise bu*ds, small animab, and poultry. It sleeps
all the day, and only stirs out in the night ; it climbs up trees, and
hangs in the brancnes by its tail. Its flesh is very good to eat.
'It is easily tamed and oommonlv lives in high places.

Wild Goats. — In Venezuela there is a species of wild goat, of
a brownish yellow colour; these are not varied in their colour like
domestic animals.

The Puma, or American Lion, and the Jaguae, or South
American Tiger are the most ferocious of the animals found in
Venezuela ; nevertheless they hardly ever attack man, and are only
found in the deep mountain fastnesses. These animals are
becoming very scarce, as they are hunted for the sake of their
skins, which are very valuable.

Dbeb of different species are also found.

Numerous herds and varieties of Mokkets people the forests,
and serve as food to the natives.

♦ Vide Buffon, vol. i. p. 212.

G 2

BIRDS, REPTILES, FISHES, AND INSECTS.

The Birds are very numerous, and while some astonish us by
their magnificent plumaore, others fiilly make up for their deficiency
in this respect by their delicate and nutritious nesh To the latter
belong divers species of Wild Ducks, the Powis, the Marupi, the
Hannaaue resembling a pheasant, the duraqua and maam, both
resembling the European Partridge, Wild Pigeons, Turkeys, crested
quails, snipe, plover, the trumpeter, a beautiful bird whose flesh is
as good as a pheasant*s, the curassow, which bears much re-
semblance to the pheasant, and whose flesh is excellent. AmoDg
divers other birds are the Jabiru or Taramau, a large bird which
frequents the savannas^ and the flesh of which is not unlike beet
in taste ; Parrots, Macaws, the plumage of which glows with the
most vivid tints of blue, purple, and yellow ; the numerous species
of Humming-birds, covered with the most gorgeous plumage and
glittering with metallic lustre when winging their way from flower
to flower ; the Toucan, the bright, yellow, and black Mocking birds;
the Bell-bird or Campanero, white as snow, with a leathery
excrescence on its head, th« cry of which resembles the tolKng of
a convent bell ; the magnificent Cock-of-the-rock with its bright
orange plumage, and its head surmounted by a semi-circular erect
crest, convey an idea of the splendour with which Nature has
decked its ofiEpiing under the tropics.

Both fresh and salt-water Turtles are found in the Orinooo.
Fresh-water Turtles are also found in some of the other rivers in
Spanish Guayana ; they are very abundant. They assemble in
large numbers during the time that the female deposits her e^
on the sandy shore, or on the banks of the rivers. The eggs are very
delicate, and are eaten fresh and smoked by the Indians ; or they
prepare a sweet tasted oil from them, which is used for culinary
purposes by the Venezuelans, or sent to the nearest market for sale.

The rivers, lakes, estuaries, and even the smallest streams, are
at all seasons literally aUve with swarms of Fish ; more abundant
and in a greater variety than is common to any river or fresh-water
lake elsewhere in the world ; varying in size from tbe tiniest pan
fish to fish 10 feet and 12 feet long, and weighing from 200 lbs. to
800 lbs. They aflbrd cheap yet most delicious food, in the greittest
abundance, to all classes of people. They vie in delicacy witih Itny
of our European fresh-water fish.*

Wild bees are found in the greatest numbers whei'ever thete is
timber ; and their honey, though encased in a jet bladk comb, and
placed on the outside of the branch, instead of in a hollow of
the tree, is of the best quality, and can be easily obtained.

* Vith &, H. Sohomburgh, DiBoovery of the Spanish Hsin, vol. i, p. 8S.

THE GRANT OF 240,000 SQUARE MILES OF LAND,

fiT THE

VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT,

DR. KENRT M. PRICE AND ASSOCIATES.

THE CHARTERED AMERICAN, ENGLISH, AND VENEZUELA
TRADING AND COMMERCIAL COMPANY.

Ministry of the Interior, Central Section, Caraccas,

September 1,3th, 1865.
In the Second Year of the Law and the Seventh of the Federation.

Conditions upon which the Minister of Venezuela in Washington may
Contract with the proposed Colonization of Mr, JEenry Price.

There is conceded to him and his associates the rig'ht to form a
Company for the Colonization of all vacant Lands which may be
found in the State Gaayana and the district of Amazonas.

The Government grants to the colonists all the rig-hts and privi-
leges of citizenship after acquiring' domicile, perfect liberty of
religion^ freedom oi press and <K speech ; the right to be represented
in Congress according to the census, which is to be taken every
five years ; the appointment of' local officers among citizens of the
Southern States by naturalizatpn ; exemption from all taxes for
five years, or more if desired.

The Government grants gratuitous patents and exclusive privi-
leges for all the unoccupied land which lies south of the 8th degree
of northern latitude on the river Orinoco, and the boundary line of
New Granada. It will also grant vacant lands in all the other
States of the Union to this Company, to Be cultivated by the
immigrants, allotting onefanega to each one ; but if the latter snould
cultivate a larger extent of vacant land, and establish his permanent
residence in the country, and the cultivation of the land^ a title as

proprietor will be furnished him after the expiration of three
years.

There is conceded to the Company the ezclusiYe right and
jurisdiction in all mineral and vegetable products to be found in
the lands they occupy, the privilege of importing, free of duty,
salt, iron, flour, wheat, comestibles, agricultural utensils, machinery,
&c. ; the right to export freely the cotton and tobacco they
produce on their own lands for the space of five years, and this
concession will be extended if it so please the General Government.

There will be granted to the Company the right to establish
factories, to construct railroads, telegraphs, turnpikes, and canals in
the above mentioned districts.

The Company will establish the coming of the immigrants to
whom the preceding article refers by a certificate of the highest
civil authority of the place from which they come, and this certi-
ficate will be vised iree of charge by the Director-General for
Europe, Jas. Frederick Pattison, Esq., No. 3, The Crescent,
America Square, City, E.C., and at Richmond, Va., U. S.

The grant of tbese privileges will be limited as follows: — on the
north line that marks the 8th degree of northern latitude as far as
the town of Santa Cruz ; following from this point the north bank
of the Orinoco as far as the mouth of the river Meta, following
the same bank of this river to where it touches New Granada, and
thence this same line on the east ; on the south the boundary line
of Venezuela and the Empire of Brazil; and on the west the
frontier between Venezuela and English Guiana, and finally the
Atlantic Ocean.

Controversies which may in any way arise out of this contract
will never c'ive occasion for international reclamation, and will be
decided beiore the tribunals of justice of the United States of
Venezuela, and in accordance with the existing laws, all with the
countenance of the minister of the country from which they come,
accredited near the Government of the United States of Venezuela.

(Signed) Alvares de Lugo,

Doctor H. M. Price is authorized to make such arrangements as
may be most expedient for the carrying out of this project of
colonization, granting the number of acres which may be required
for the colonists.

[Seal] The Secretary of Legislation, Florencio Bibas.

This grant has been ratified by the Venezuelan Government, as
will be seen by the following extracts from a letter from Senor
Ribas : —

Dear Sir.— Letters of inquiry about the Venezuelan Emigration
Company have become so numerous that we find it impossible to answer
them all by letters, and we concluded to publish the whole transaction
and the facts, in relation to the scheme and the country, that we have
been able to gather from authentic sources ; and will endeavour to do it
in such a manner that it will answer all the questions that have been
or may be asked about this well gotten-up scheme to provide a home
for the down-trodden Southerner. In 1865 the Venezuelan Govern-
ment authorized their Ministei* at Washington to make this grant :
February 5th, 1866, Dr. Price accepted it, and in June it was ratified
by the Venezuelan Government. In this grant is conceded the right
to form a Company for the colonization of all vacant lands in the S^te
of Guayana and the district of Amazonas, which includes all the terri-
tory of Venezuela south and east of the Orinoco river — ^about 240,000
square miles. It says " all vacant lands ; " we understand from good
authority that there is but very little indeed but what is vacant ; to
all of which the Government grants gratuitous patents and exclusive
privilege ; the exclusive right and jurisdiction in all mineral and vege-
table products ; the privilege of importing and exporting free of duty
for five years ; the right to establish factories, to construct railroads,
telegraphs, turnpikes, and canals ; the rights and privileges of citizen-
ship on domicile ; the right to form their own State and municipal
Governments, subject of course to the National Government.

The territory granted the Company is an empire of itself ; in extent,
wealth, and resources, large enough for several States ; abounding in
mines of gold, silver, copper, zinc, lead, iron, coal, petroleum, quicksilver,
and diamonds, its gold mines being richer than those of California. Also
in vegetable productions the most varied and valuable; Peruvian bark,
indigo, rubber, sarsaparilla, logwood, and other rich dye woods, cabinet
woods, ship timber, anatta, apices, &c. Its broad savannas afibrd the richest
and most abundant pasturage, rendering it unsurpassed for grazing
purposes. The staple productions are cotton, coffee, sugar, cocoa, to-
bacco, rice, tapioca, Indian com, &c. Humboldt, in his " Travels in South
America," says, "it is the most fertile, rich, and enchanting region
of America, the garden spot of the world," and " will be the best cotton
growing section of the imiverse." The climate is healthy and regular,
the thermometer never exceeding 87 degrees or falling below 70. Of
course it never gets as hot as we sometimes have it here, or never near
so cold. It is the intention of the Company to establish a distinctive
State Government under the liberal and enlightened Kepublic of Vene-
zuela, which shall be moral, social, and pure in all its characteristics,
and by energy and enterprise, and the developements of the natural
wealth and resources of the country, to extend agriculture, trade, com-
merce, and manufacture, at once rendering the State of Guayana inde-
pendent in the present, and great and happy in the future.

In addition to this extremely liberal grant, the Venezuelan Govern-
ment have been generous enough to make a donation of 10,000 dollars
to be used in aiding the first immigrants that arrive should they need
assistance, with the rights of citizenship on arrival in the country.
Dr; Price's sol^ object in seeking and obtaining this grant was to provide

a home for fhoae in the south, who he had fcHivsight enough to see, ooold
not remain in their old homes under the vulgar domination of their
heartless victors : and for the poor confederate soldiers and their widows
and orphans.

Dr. H. Price intends to go out with the first Company to choose the
place for the location of the colony. I intend to go myself. If it is not
inconvenient to you I advise you to join. The climate is generally
healthy. It is warm in the valleys and oool on the highlands. Baron
Humboldt, in his Travels in the Tropics, sayS| "the lands that are along
the Caroni river are the best adapted for the settlement of an European
colonization." There are about 50,000 Indians in the territory, harm-
less and friendly, but uncivilized, who, properly directed, could become
useful men to society. Labourers could be obtained from the neigh-
bouring states, and from some of the West India Islands. I believe I
have satisfied your questioDs, if not, write me again. I will, with plea-
sure, give you any other information you may require.

I am, Sir, yours, Florencio Bibas.

From the JSt. Louis Tim£s, Wednesday/ Morning, May 8<A.

« Editorial."

. We priut elsewhere a circular, giving detailed information respecting
the new American colony at Venezuela, whence we have advices of the
arrival of two ship loads of colonists. If one half that is written of
Venezuela is true, and we have no reason to doubt the least of it, it is
one of the richest and most desirable abiding places on the face of
the earth. Settled by hardy and intelligent Anglo-Saxons it would soon
become a paradise. Its products are those which are most in demand,
and bear the most remunerative ^prices in the markets of the world.
Living is cheap ; labor easily obtained ; the soil fertile ; the climate
healthy ; the Government liberal, and every facilit}- and encouragement
offered the emigrant. We commend this circular to general perusal.

THE AMERICAN- VENEZUELAN EMIGRATION.

Circular from Secretary Rib as in Anffioer to Letters of Inquiry,

The grant of land made by the United States of Venezuela to Dr.
Henry M. Price and his associates, comprises nearly all the territory in-
closed by the Orinoco river on the north and west, and by the boundary
lines of Brazil and British Guiana on the south and east. It is marked
on our maps as the State of '^ Guayana,'* and lies between one and ten
degrees of north latitude.

The Venezuelan Government grants to the immigrants tlie rights
and privileges of citizenship on landing, with exemption from military
duty and aU taxes for five years, with the privilege of exporting and im-
porting, free of duty, for the same length of time.

Two Teflsels of oolonistg have already sailed. Those who went first
liaTe arrived at Bolivar, which is an old Spanish town on the Orinooo
river, 300 miles from the* mouth.

Giiayana o^rs to the stranger a choice of various climates, the tropical
heat of the coast, the moderate temperature of intermediary table lands,
or the frosty air of the mountampeaks^ that divide Venezuela from her
neighbours, English Guiana and Brazil. The land rises in successively
higher plateaus^ from the flat margin of the Orinoco to the summits of
the opposite boundary line. A locality of semi-mountainous height, in
a tropical latitude, has the most desirable climate on earth. ^ Such is
that of these plateaus.

£aron Yon Humboldt, wrote : '' The climate of Caraccas has often
been called a perpetual Spring. The same sort of climate exists almost
everywhere half-way up tne Cordilleras. What can be more delightful
than a temperature which is equally favourable to the lemon and the
orange tree, the apple, apricot, and com ?

The soil of Guayana produces caoutchouc or India-rubber, coffee,
rice : it is the native home of chocolate ; it grows cotton of various
colours, according to the composition of the sou in different localities ;
it produces sugar-cane, Indian com, tobacco, potatoes, sweet potatoes,
the bread-fruit tree, and the milk tree, or palo de vaca, wheat ; and
the other grains ; peaches, quinces, apples, almonds, oranges, lemons,
figs, cocoa nuts, pine apples, bananas of various kinds, strawberries,
water-melons, yams, arrowroot, and a great number of farinaceous
roots unknown here, such as capaichos, lalrens, and yuca,of which
last the natives make a nutritious and delicious bread.

In the noble South American forests are the fine woods, the maho-

riy tree, black and white ebony, cedar, a^d the copal tree, waiting to
cut down and exported for cabinet-making. . For dyeing there are the
Brazilian tree, the mulberry, and the dragon tree ; for rope making, the
manillas, fagua, and the chiquiehiqui, of which Humboldt wrote, " This
cordage is extremely light, it floats upon the water, and is more durable
in the navigation of rivers than are ropes of hemp." He also said, •* It
is to be wiimed that extensive rope-walks were established on the banks
of the river Cassiquiare, in o,rder to make these cables an article of trade
with Europe. It costs from 50 to 60 per cent, less than cordage of
hemp."

For the apothecary there grows spontaneously, Peruvian bark, sarsa-
TMiriUa, the castor oil bean, the vanilla bean, copaiba, guaco, tacama-
haca, and goma. A medicinal depdt might be established at once at
Caroni, for the accumulation of these and other mediciues of the woods.

For the manufacture of oil there are, besides many other plants, the
yagua, fuvia, almond, and cocoa-nut, as well as the great turtle eggs on
the sand banks of the Orinoco.

For tanning, there are the dividivi and the white mangel. The skins
of deer as well as cattle, afford a thriving business and might be ex-
ported in great quantities. Owners of cattle often kill them only for
the sake of their hides, and either give away the meat <ir throw it into
the river.

But more than all else^ the forests contain valuable woods for ship-

bnilding, and, of all mechanics, sliip-biiilders are most desired for this
colony. But all will find a home, where the climate is healthful, and
food is in such profusion that half of it remains ungathered, where the
Government not onlj ^Eivors but desires immigration ; and is most liberal
in offering inducements for the settlement of its unoccupied ^' 240,000
square miles," where there is " political equality," where religion, speech,
and the press are untrammelled, and the great natural wealth of the coun-
try only awaits the advent of an industrious, energetic, and intelligent
people.

Persona of ability skilled in every kind of industry, mental or manual,
are wanted in the " New World " of the Orinoco.

Labour, in that country, for cultivating the ground is cheap ; me-
chanics are scarce, and are therefore specially invited. No Hnds of
immigrants are more useful than those who know how to literally build
up a colony. The considerations in &vour of a mechanic going to
Guayana are that instead of working ten hours a day for little more
remuneration than suffices for support (happy if after years of economy
he has saved a small sum,) in Guayana he is at once the owner of a
plantation. A large family can live without giving him an hour's
anxiety about rent or food.

Pioneer mechanics will naturally become the proprietor-manufac-^
turers in each of their trades.

Communication is easy throughout the whole State, by the navigable
waters of the Orinoco and its very numerous branches. The com- .
mercial importance, at some futiire day, of the Orinoco river and towns
perhaps not yet founded on its banks, is inestimable. It has four hun-
dred navigable tributaries ; its immense basin extends frofla the Andes
to the Atlantic — ^from Brazil to the Caribbean Sea ! Hundreds of miles
from the ocean, it is four miles across, and when lowest is sixty-five
^thorns deep.

A natural canal, the navigable river Casiquiare, connects the Orinoco
and the Amazon. A minute description of it is given in the writings of
Alexander Yon Humboldt.

Venezuela is a Eepublic. The accession of intelligent voters to its
largest State, hitherto sparsedly settled, in fact, occupied mostly by
Indians, would improve the selection of rulers, strengthen the adminis-
tration of Government, and consolidate the affairs of the country.

Venezuela is rich in woods, in ores, in soil. The enjoyment of her
affluence, through skilful and intelligent industry, will flow into the
hands of mechanics, miners, farmers, herdsmen, and cotton planters,
and her political prosperity awaits only the dominant influence of ant
intellectual and cultivated people."

Eibas, in a letter to a friend, writes sJso as follows :
" The section of the country where the grant has been made, is bene-^
fited by all the advantages that nature could bestow, or a colony could
desire. The mineral, agricultural, and other great facilities that the
country affords to raise all sorts of cattle, are superior in the extreme.
To prove the latter, I will only say that I know many owners of
cattle estates, neighbours to the place where the grant has been made,
who coimt on their estates two and three hundred thousand head of

cattle. There are few countries better adapted in South. America to-
grazing and stock raising, and none abounds more in fish, fowl,
and wUd game. The exportation of deer skins from Ciudad Bolivar
amounted last year to more than half a million. The rivers are full
enough of fish to feed a very large population. To give you an idea of th^
abundance of turtle in the rivers, I will inform you that neai* Ciudad
Bolivar the municipal authorities give to the natives a yard deep from
the shore, where they find millions of eggs, which they melt into oil, and
out of this they make a very good busmess. The mineral resources of
the land are not less promising at present. They are working a gold
mine of great richness, both in abundance as well as in quality. I have
already been told that a great many have realized fortunes. The
quality of the gold is 24 carats, a quality, you know, that neither
Califomia nor Australia possesses. In the mineral lii^e you will find
also copper, lead, zinc, iron, &c. With regard to the agricultural re-
sources of the country, I will only say that everything grows almost
spontaneously, with all the luxury and freshness of a tropical vegeta-
tion. I could not tell you the manifold productions of the soil, that
are, perhaps, unrivalled in the world.

" The country has a Republican form of government. The Constitu-
tion is modelled upon that of the United States of America. The laws
are liberal and well administered. The natives are liberal and
hospitable to foreigners. All religions are allowed by the Constitution*
By the grant, all tne immigrants will at once enjoy the same political,
civil, and social rights. You will have all the roads open to political
position, no matter what it may be, except the Presidency of the Re-
public—that only the natives or your children bom there can hold.
You will enjoy, however, certain privileges that are denied to the
natives, such as exemption from all taxes or duty for five years or
longer, if desired.'*

I am, Sir, yours,

Florencio Ribas..

DIRECTORS.

Henry M. Price, President, Va.
Richard H. Musser, Vice President, Mo.

COPY OF CHARTER.

VIRGINIA.

Ik the Circuit Court of thb City of Richmond.

February 4th, 1868.

This day came Robert R. Collier, John A. Doll, Henry M. Price,
G. Horzisey, and Jacob H. Briggs, who desire to &rm a Company,
the chief business of which will be trade, commerce, and the carry-
ing of passengers and freight, in steam and sailing vessels, forth and
back nrom the ports in the United States of North America,
England, and Venezuela in South America, and especially to and
from the ports of the Orinoco river : and produced before the Court
A certificate as provided by the Statutes of the State of Virginia
in such cases for obtaining charters of incorporation ; and which
said certificate it is considered by the Court shall be inserted as a
part of this order as follows, to wit : —

Scottsville, Albermarle County, State of Virginia,

December 17th, 1867.

This is to certify that we, R. R. Collier, Jho. A. Doll, Henry
M. Price, C. Hornsey, Jacob H. Briggs, R. H. Musser, Benjamin
P. Vancourt, J. Frederick Pattison, A. F. Rudler, and our asso-
ciates, have formed ourselves into a Joint Stock Company, under
the name and style of the ^' American, English, and Venezuelan
Trading and Commercial Company," based upon a Grant of Land
made by the Venezuelan Government to Dr. Henry M. Price and
his associates, September 18th, 1865.

The purpose of the Company, as organized, is to establish a line
of steamers and other vessels between the ports of Norfolk and
New Orleans, and the ports of the Orinoco river in Venezuela, and
from and to such other points as they may desire, with a capital
stock of two millions of dollars, divided into twenty thousand
shares of one hundred dollars each. The amoimt of real estate
proposed to be held in the State of Virginia is not to exceed the
value of fifty thousand dollars.

The principal offices of said Company to be located in the City
of Richmond, Virginia ; and the City of London, England ; and
Las Tablas, on the Orinoco river, Venezuelan Guayana : its chief
business being trade, commerce, and carrying of passengers and
freight.

The following are the names and residences of the officers for
the ensuing year, viz. :— *

IL H. Mosser^ Esq., of the City of St. Louis, Mo., President.

B. R. Collier, Esq., of the City of Petersburg, Ya., Yice-

Pi*esident.

C. Hornsey, Esq., of Fluvanna County, Ya., Treasurer.
Jacob H. Briggs, Esq., of Scottsville, Ya., Secretary.

' With the foUovtring Directors :

Dr. Henry M. Price, of Scottsville, Ya.

John A. Doll, Esq., of Scottsville, Ya.

C. Hornsey, Esq., of Fluvanna County, Ya.

Jacob H. Briggs, Esq., of Scottsville, Ya.

A. F. Rudler, Esq., of Augusta, Greorgia.

J. Frederick Pattison, Esq., of the City of London, England..

Benjamin P. Yancourt, Esq., of the City of New Orleans, La.

Senor Florencio Ribas, of the City of New York; and

R. H. Musser, Esq., of the City of St. Louis, Mo.

Witness of hands and seals :

(S^ed) R. R. Colli BB, (Seal'

Henry M. Price, (Seal.^

John a. Doll, (Seal.

J. H. Briogs, i^^'i

C. Hornsey, (Seal.^

State of Yirginia, Albermarle County, to wit : —

T, Wm. D. Davis, a Notary Public for the County aforesaid, do-
certify that Henry M. Price, Jno. A. DoU, J. EL Briggs, and
C. Hornsey, whose names are signed to the within writing, bearing
date the 17th day of December, 1867, have acknowledged the
same before me in my said County.

Given imder my hand this 17th day of December, 1867.

(Signed) Wm. D. Davis, N.P.

State of Virginia, City of Petersburg, to wit : —

I, James M. Donnan, a Notary Public in and for the said City,
do certify, that R. R. Collier, well known to me, personally ap-
peared before me, and acknowledged his signature to the cerdn-
oate on the reverse side of this sheet.

Given under my hand this 13th day of January, a.d. 1368.

(Signed) Jab. M. Donkak, IMary FukUe.

And thereupon it is considered and ordered by thd Gdtitt aa<
follows >—

That R. R, Collier, John A. Doll, Henry M. Price, C. Homsey,
Jacob H. Briggs, R. H. Musser, Bern . P. Vancourt, J. Frederick
Pattison, A JP. Rudler, Florencio Kibas, and their successors,
associates and assigns be, and hereby are, appointed and consti-
tuted a bodj corporate by the name of *^ The American, English,
and Venezuelan Trading and Commercial Company," to have by
that name perpetual succession, and be capable to sue and be sued
in every court of law or equity, and with authority to make and
use a common seal, and to ordain from time to time such articles
of constitution and bye-laws as may be necessary for the conve-
nient conducting of the affairs of the Company, and not in conflict
with the constitution and laws of the United States, or of England,
or of this State, or of Venezuela.

That the objects of this Corporation are declared to be and re-
stricted to the carrying of passengers &nd freight and otherwise
trading between the ports of Virginia or elsewhere in the United
States, and the ports of England and the ports of Venezuela in
South America, and to accomplish those objects the capital stock
of the Company shall be two millions (2,000,000) of dollars,
divided into shares of one hundred (100) dollars each, with
authority to hold lands in fee simple or otherwise, not exceeding
in quantity three acres in any city or town in this State, or else-
where in this State one hundred acres in a body, nor altogether in
the purchase price thereof to exceed the value of fifty thousand
dollars, and whereon the Company may construct or own a wharf
or wharves necessary or convenient for their business, and the said
Company may buy or build, hire or charter as many steamers,
boats, sailing vessels, ship-yards, foundries, furnaces and buildings
as their business may require, provided that no debt for more than
one hundred thousand dollars shall be incurred, without the stock-
holders consenting thereto in general meeting. That the said
Company shall have the power to borrow money, and to issue the
bonds of the Company for the same, and to pledge by deed of
trust, mortgage, assignment, or otherwise, any number of shares of
stock, not exceeding fifteen thousand shares of one hundred dollars
each for the repayment of the same, or any of the property of the
Company for the same purpose ; and all the social property of
whatever kind shall be answerable for all debts and contracts made
by or for the Company, and for all legal demands against the
Company, but the stockholders shall not be liable as individuals or
out of their private estates.

That the holders of a majority of the stock shall be a quorum,
and a quorum may at any time dissolve the Corporation, provided
however, that no contract with or suit by or against the Company
shall be impaired by such dissolution.

And the Court doth order that this proceeding, emhracing the
foregoing Charter he recorded and certified as the Act of Assembly^
passed January 29th, 186?; amending chapter 66, 8i, of the code
of Virginia requires.

State of Virginia, City of Richmond.

I, Benjamin Pollard, Clerk of the Circuit Courts of the City of
Richmond, in the State of Virginia aforesaid, do hereby certify that
the foregoing is a true transcript from the records of the said Court.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and
afiGLsed the seal of said Court, at Richmond, this the 12th
day of February, in the year of our Lord eighteen
hundred and sixty-eighty and in the 92nd year of the
Commonwealth.

(Signed) Benj. Pollard^ Cflerk.

1868, February 12th.

Received in office of Secretary of the Commonwealth for Record,
and duly recorded.

(Signed) J. M. Hekndon,

Secretary of Commonwealth.

Virginia.

I, Francis H. Pierpoint, Governor of the State of Virginia, do
hereby certify that Benjamin Pollard, whose signature and official
-seal are affixed to the annexed document, and J. M. Herndon,
whose certificate is endorsed thereon, are as they describe themselves
in their respective certificates, the said Pollard, Clerk of the Circuit
Court of the City of Richmond, in the State of Virginia, and the
said Herndon, Secretary of the Commonwealth for said State ; that
the signatures purporting to be those of the said Clerk and
Secretary are genuine, and their certificates according to law, and
that to all their official acts full &ith, credit, and authority are due
and ought to be given.

•In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, as
Governor, and caused the great seal of the State to be
affixed. Do;ie at the City of Richmond, this 12th day
of February, a.d. 1868, and in the 92nd year of the
Commonwealth.

By the Governor. (Signed) P. H. Pieepoint.

(Signed) P. F, Howard.

Assistant Secretary of the Commonwealth and Keeper of the Seals.
(Seal.)

The Diary dnrii^ the Voyage of Dr. Henry M. Price ho Tenezuela, who
accompanie<fsome of his Emigrants : he being the Grantee, to whom
was conceded this Gift of Land by the Bepaolic of Venezuela.

FROM VENEZUELA.

Interesting Account of the Voyasfe of a Company of Emigrants in the
schooner, U.S., which sailed from Wihnington, N.C , on the 6th of April
1867, bound for the Grant of Land made by the Bepublic of Venezuela^
South America, to Doctor H. M. Price and his associates, for the benefit
of the impoverished Southern people who may wish to leave their native
country for one more congeuial to their views and feelings. "Written
by Dr. Price, in a series of letters to his wife, and through her com-
municated to the public.

Schooner XJ.S., for Venezuela, at Sea, lat. 24°, long. 60**^

April 18th, 1867.

My dear "Wife. — ^The captain having promised to run into Bridge-
town, Barbadoes, to enable me to mail my letters, I avail myselT
of a calm to write to you, or rather commence writing The roll of the
vessel, however, is not very favourable to plain writing. I will state
that we are all well, and then proceed to give you my "log " daily
from Wilmington to this point.

Saturday, April 6th, 111-4 a.m. Swung off from Wilmington with,
the river pilot, and anchored above the bar, opposite Smithtield, N.C,
at 4 P.M. A battery and regiment of XJ.S. negro troops are stationed at
this point, and we anchored immediately in front of the battery. My
feelings were anything but pleasant^ thinking of our being held in sub-
jection by our former slaves,

Sunday, April 7th, 9 a.m. Anchored 20 miles below the Light House.

Monday, the 8th, at 9 A.M., weighed anchor, but the wind and tide-
being against us we again anchored. The wind veering we weighed
anchor again and put out to sea. Several became sea sick ; I escaped.
Walker, my servant, was very sick, and one of the sailors told him to
tie a piece offcU pork to a srt;ring, and swallow it three times, he (the
sailor), pulling it up each time, much to the amusement of all who were
not sick.

Tuesday, 9th. Entered the Gulf Stream, crossing it due east. The
captain intendkig to keep this course, north of Bermuda, to the 60th
degree of longitude.

Wednesday, 10th, at 6 A.ir. Another vessel passed on our beam,,
within fifty yards. We have a most excellent seaman for captain.
CSaptain De Bokas is a Dane.

Thursd^ April 1 1th. Weather fair; wind N.E. ; and the vessel sailed
rapidly. Walker, the servant, still below, sick.

Friday, 12tii. Weather still fair. Wind fresher from N.E.. and we
make ten knots an hour. Those who are overtheir sea-sickness are on
deck and enjoying themselves. '

Saturday, April 13th. This morning the captain determined to again

hoist Bail and make an effort to run N.E. We had just hoisted sail and
veered the ship, when the wind suddenly changed north, and away we
went to the south, every soul gratified at the result.

Sunday, April 14th. Clear. Still running south. Walker is better
and out again.

Monday, 15ih. Clear; but sea still heavy. Walker lost his new hat
overboard. I told him to jump out and swim after it, but he said the
sea was "too bumpy.*' Passed two ships to-day: one a Yankee, the
other English. Numbers of "herring hogs" (a species of dolphin)
swim around the vessel. A flying fish fell on board, making Xhe
second.

Tuesday, 16th. Clear ; but sea rough; course South-east.

Wednesday, 17th. Clear. Parsed the English mail steamer at 6 a.m.
Sea quiet. Change our com*se east. Stay on deck aU day, and try to
study Spanish— up-hill business in a noise.

Thursday, 18th. Fair weather. The steward being sick. Walker is
helping him, and is as proud as if he were captain.

Friday, 19th. A fine rain in the morning, but no wind scarcely —
almost a calm, which enables me to write up to this time, 10 a.m. Our
company is a pleasant one. The captain, mate, CoL Belton, Yancourt,
and myself have the cabin, and mess together with Watkins, an emigrant
from Tennessee. Watkins is a young man of family and talent. Yery
studious. Was in the war, and resided since in Texas. Our mate
is a character — an old man, very loquacious. Doct. De La Hay
is also a character. He is a Don Quixote in appearance ; is a
widower, and consequently very amiable to a young lady on board.
Should not be surprised if we have a wedding shortly. (I omitted to say
in starting, that I am under obligations to S. Eowland, Esq., of Ealeigh,
N. C, for aid. But for him I could not have obtained means to
provision and clear the vessel. I was determined there should be no
£dlure.) Our steward is a most excellent cook, and we fare well. We
are now out of the latitude and longitude of the " United States,'* so
called. 11a. h. — ^The rain is over, and a dead cahn is upon us. We
hang listlessly upon the water — ^the very sails flapping for want of wind to
keep them " taut.'' A few " mother carey birds are flying around over-
head, due east. The sea as smooth as glass. I am anxious to have this
trip over, and once more see my dear family. I fancy to myself how aU
look at home. I can stay but a short time, as I must go to England
immediately upon my return. We are yet 1200 miles from our desti-
nation. Lat. 20^ 10", long. 61 — ^by observation at 12 k. How long
shall we be becalmed ? Dolphins around us. At 25 minutes to two
o'clock, a fine breeze set in. The captain says we are now in the
** trade winds,'' and two-thirds of the passage made.

Saturday, 20th« Wind laid at 12 last night, and again becalmed.
Fine shower at 5 A. H. The captain harpooned a dolphin, but failed to
get him aboard. At 12 a.h. passed three vessels to leeward. At 1
p. M. felt very sick. Am still very unwell, and at dinner sent to a
neighbour and obtained a glass of milk 1 At 1 p. m. commenced rain-
ing suddenly. The night being clear I remained on deck until 12 p. h.
Two flying-fish came al^ard — ^a small one and a large one. — ^A sail passed
us to the windward about 11 p. m.

Sunday, April Slst. Beautiful clear day ; fine breeze. Passed a sail
at 6 A. M. Set up until 10 p. h. thinking of home, and the loved ones
there.

Monday, Awil 22nd. Beautiful clear morning. Wind variable ;
and we run S. W., S. E., and E., along the 60*=* of long. At 12 m. the
weather is deli^tfnl. I would be rejoiced if Messrs. Doll, Briggs, and
Ferrell were with us. Col. Belton is fine jovial company, as are also
Vancourt, Watkins, and others. We are making no " Southern " — ^the
wind is dead ahead. Becalmed at 6 p. m.

Tuesday, 23rd. Wind rose at 1 a. m. Clear beautiful day. Wind
ahead from east. Course S.E., the current, however, carries us south,
and enables us to ms^e '^ Southing.'' Passed a vessel at 11 p. m.

Wednesday, 24th. Slightly cloudy. At 8 A. h. wind altered due
N. W., sail "Wing and wing."

Thursday, 25th. Clear warm morning. Fair winds. Course due
south. At 2 p. M. again becahned. Very warm, and we are well into
the tropics. Watkins and myself amuse ourselves feeding the petrels
fiying around the vessel

Friday, 26th. Clear warm morning. Fine breeze at time of sun-
rise ; and we are again moving. Lat. 70^ 56', Lon. 58° 10'. At 3
p. M., pass an English vessel bound from I>emerai*a to London. We .
had a fine breeze up to 12 aji., and are making now 8 knots an hour.
Sea phosphorescent to night.

Saturday, 27th. Was up at 6 a. m. to see the sun rise. Breeze still
good from S. E., and we are making 8 knots " close hauled." I fear
the captain will not run into Bridgewater. If he does not, I will mail
by first opportunity. Breeze moderated to 3 knots an hour. Saw a lot
of Booby birds flying around the vessel Passed a school of Porpoises,
supposed to be four or &ve hundred.

Sunday, 28th. Clear morning— fine breeze. Took a salt water bath
this morning, and " turned over a new leaf.*' At 1 J p. m. sighted the
Isle of Barlwidoes from mast-head, 60 miles west. The captain will not
run in, which is a disappointment to us all. I must wait for another
opportunity to send my letters. Saw a beautiful little " Portugese man-
of-war," the first I have seen. At 5 p. m. passed a school of Grampuses.
Breeze freshened at 7, and we are running 7-12 knots an hour. The
sea is very high, and the foam as it roUs away from the prow is like
snow-white milk, glittering with diamonds.

Monday, 29th. Another clear morning with fine breeze. If nothing
prevents, we shaU run into the Orinoco to morrow. Lat. 10, long. 69.
Numerous fiying fish — a large one aboard, and I secured its wings.
Several shots fired at a large white Booby, but failed. At 3 p. m. a large
whale passed to the windward of us — ^the first we have seen.

Tuesday, 30th. Clear morning. By morning observation at 6 a.m.
we are 30 miles N. E. of Sabienta Point, on Orinoco, and we shall be in
by 12 A.M., if nothing happens. So I will close this part of my " log" —
or the " sea voyage." I shall mail this by first opportunity. I will
keep an exact diary of everything while on the Orinoco, and forward
from St. Thomas, or La Guayra. If nothing happens to prevent it, you
may look for me some time in July. I shall only be able to remain home

four weeks before I go to England. I shall return to Goayana in
November, and possibly remain six months. I think every day of you
and the dear children. I am collecting specimens of everything that
may interest them. I shall have nice faais — ^the wings of flying fish — for
Adda and Nannie — for cm'iosity, not for use. — ^Kiss the dear little ones,
and accept my continued love, esteem, and affection, for both you and
them, and my dear sister. Eemember me to Messrs. Ferrell, Doll, and
Briggs, and tell them they must arrange to come out in November
with me.

Your affectionate husband, Hsnbt M. Price.

>^^i^^-^— i^^^v^^^— ■^•^^^-^k—— ^i— •

Off the Orinoco, April 30th, 1867.

My dear "Wife, — I closed my last at the terminus of our sea
^voyage. This morning we are in sight of Sabienta Point, on the
Orinoco.

This Point is on the south side of the Orinoco, 17 miles E. N. E. from
Mocomoco Point — ^which latter is seen 15 miles off at sea in cleai*
weather. Barima Point is seven miles S. W. by S. from Sabienta
Point. The Pilot House is on Congress or Crab Island, 15 miles from
Barima Point. I note the above as preliminary to the dotting down of
such matters as may be of interest to you and to others. To-day, at
1 P.M., we sighted Mocomoco Point in 15 fathoms' water — shell and clay
soundings— which rapidly decrease to 6 fathoms, when we hauled off to
N. W. — ^then the West The soimdings continue at 6 to 5 3-4, until
3 o'clock P.M., when they fell off to 4 3-4, on Bank off Sabienta Point,
when we changed our course N. W. by N. There is nearly a calm, and
we go very slowly. The soundings increase to 5, 6, and 7 fathoms.
The waters of the Orinoco are apparent in the ocean, in streams of 20
or 30 feet wide — ^very muddy. We have crossed three or four. At
5 P.M. came in shoal water, and tacked our course to due West. This
was the Bank off Sabienta Point. Anchored at 6 f.m., 15 miles from the
Pilot House on Congress Island.

May 1st. At 8 a.m., land visible off Mocomoco Point, 9 miles off
on starboard bow. Course along the coast N. W. by W., 6 3-4 fathoms'
soundings. Thermometer 81^*. The current runs 2 miles in an hour,
and under "jib and foresail," we beat in 3 miles, giving us about 5
miles an hour. At 9 a.m. the soundings are 5 3-4 fathoms. Trees are
very visible on the shore. At 9 40 a sudden rain squall from S. E.
At 10 A.M., off the Point— course West — shower over. Soundings 5
fathoms — sheading for Sabienta Point. We keep well off the shore, 4
miles, as the vessel may be aground. Nearly out of sight of land, and
the bank shoals rapidly. At 11 15 a.m., soundings 4 3-4 fathoms — 3
miles off shore — ^hard bottona — course N. W. by W. At 12 a.m. Ther-
mometer 84S, sounding 3 fathoms. Latitude 8^ 40m., Long. 59? 53m.
On Mocomoco Point, there are three large trees on the beach, visible
for some miles at sea, and are used to identify the same. At 12 45,
tacked to the W. N. W., and ran along the coast about 4 miles off land.
The land is high and heavily wooded. At 3 J'.m., water muddy — ^Ther-
mometer 82^. At 5 P.M., anchored 4 miles off the coast, in 2 fathoms'

H 2

100

water. The Captain is uncertain about his reckoning and position ; an<)
intends, if necessary, to remain two days to correct it, and also to send
out an exploring party. Thermometer at 6 p.m., 84°.

Thursday, May 2nd. Foggy and cloudy. Thermometer at 6. a.m.,
79°. The coast stretching in front of us, S. E., and N. W., is very high,,
but the shoal extends fiat for 7 or 8 miles. I am satisfied in my own
mind it is the land between Mocomooo and Sabienta Points — ^that the
Point just ahead — 7 miles off, is Sabienta Point, and just beyond is the
mouth of the Orinoco. The Captain, however, is right to be cautious.
There is great discrepancy in the latitudes and longitudes of this coast,
as laid down in the "English Chart" <*Blunt's Coast Pilot," and
"Bowditch's Epitome of Navigation.' Our observations show all
wrong, and the difficulty is to determine which is nearest right. The
two latter works are issued authoritatively, bv the same house, and
should be corrected to agree. Any house issuing works showing dis-
crepancy, is morally responsible for loss of property arid life ; and
should be held so legally. I fear this house is like other Yankee con-
cerns — a catch-penny rattle trap, and the proprietors obtuse to every-
thing but the all-mighty dollar. The sailing directions of this coast,
in " Blunt's Coast Guide/' are indefinite and a " humbug." It is my in-
tention, as soon as possible, to have an accurate survey of the coast and
soundings, by "The American, English, and Venezuelan Company."
Our Emigration and Commercial interests will require this of the Com-
pany. It also requires an extra amount of patience to be anchored on a
*• mud bank," off the coasts of this latitude after a long voyage, in sight
of the " promised land,* and yet unable to reach it, and still be easy in
mind. — Good ! — a schooner in sight, coming out of the Eiver, heading^
North. We have found ourselves, and can now go ahead. At 1 1-2 p.i£.
weighed anchor — course N.W. — soundings increase to 4 and 5 fathoms,,
and we are clear of Sabienta Bank at last. — ^At 2 p.m., course W. under
canvas. Thermometer at 3 p.m. 81*=*. At 3 1-2 course S. W. by W., full
Barima Point and Congress Island just before us. At last we are
heading to the Orinoco. At 5 p.m. crossed the bar — passed the mouth of
the Carema river, some 200 yards wide, coming in on the South. Passed
within half a mile of land off Barima Point. Congress or Crab Island,
5 miles on the N. W. of us. Saw a number of gay-colouredjparrots on
shore. We are in the River, — Thermometer at 6 p.m. 82?. The river is
studded with islets, and presents a most beautiful sight with its flowers
and evergreen trees. At 7 p.m. anchored below Congress Island, which
is the Pilot Station. The Pilot Station should be on the west side of
Barima river, and if we succeed I will have one established there, as
also a Light Ship on the Congress Bank opposite. I shall enclose this
with the one already written, hoping to meet the steamer for La Guayra,
and thus be able to forward it at once. With all our " ups and downs,'*
the voyage has been a safe and pleasant one. No accident of any
serious character — ^no sickness of consequence. I find the country, so
&r, even of a better character than I thought it. It is high along tho
coast — ^not over warm, and very heavily timbered.

My love and affectionate esteem to aU at home.

Youv affectionate husband^

H. M. Prioi.

101

May 3rd, 1867.

My dear Wife. — ^At 6 a.m. weighed anchor. I had a most delightful
sleep last night upon the quiet waters of the Orinoco. Thermometer
80®, slightly foggy. The thermometer last night at 9 o'clock was 79*^.
Watkins has just caught a cat-tish, weighing ^ pounds. Soundings in
river 30 feet. At 7 a.m., three miles off Congress Island, have 40 feet
water. At 8 a.m. made a most delightful break&st on cat-fish steak
and fried ham ; the ham however was scarcely patronised, so appetising
was the fat and solid cat-fish steak. Colonel B— — fully endorses
the above, and proved his faith by his works in a most admirable
manner. At 9 a.m. off the pilot house on Congress Island. Ther-
mometer 82^. The ascent of the river thus far has been very slow,
against the ebb-tide and current. The Orinoco is very easily entered
from the sea by keeping within a mile of the shore and south bank of
the liver in 12 feet water. There is 12 feet on the bar at low water,
and when across it increases rapidly. A vessel, from the north, east, or
sonth, should make the land off Mocomoco Point, which is a high
point, easily distinguished by three trees on a point up the beach ; but
it should not run in nearer than 4 fathoms water, then course the coast in
3 or 4 fathoms, well off the shore, say 7 or 8 miles, to Sabienta Point ;
then run in to the shore, locking it in 3 fathoms, to Barima Point, and
then across the bar. If a vessel runs in clear from Mocomoco to Sa-
bienta, drawing 10 feet water, she will certainly be aground on Sabienta
bank. Nine a.m. anchored in front of the pilot-house, in 30 feet of
water, thermometer 81®. The pilot-house is a long thatched cottage,
close to the bank ; is quite picturesque with its avenue of thick ever-
greens, and a back-ground of dense verdant forest. I regret we
have not a camera, as already we have had several delightful views,
which I should like to have taken. I will certainly bring one in the fall.
The breeze is delightful, and we have not as yet suffered in the least
with heat, even in the sun. Not a soul aboard but is charmed with the
sceneiy and balmy air. Pilot aboard at 10 a.m.« and we weighed anchor.
The pilot has a boy of fifteen with him. He is a keen-buut, muscular,
balf-breed, named William. The pilot seemed glad of immigration —
enquired ** when more camo-^he&p ? heap 1 " He in&rmed us that the
Elizabeth, with emigrants, from New Orleans, reached the mouth of the
Oaroni about a month ago, and went out about twenty days ago, all
4safe and well. I am rejoiced at this. The Government compels the
pilots to carry all our Emigrant vessels free. This at once proves the
interest they feel in our success. May God ever bless the land of our
adoption. The pilot has a lot of light paddles made by the Carib
Indians, from the sap-wood of mahogany, which he is taking up to
Bolivar city on sale. The paddles and part of the handles are charred.
A party of half-breeds came off in a light canoe for ship-biscuit and
pork, which are delicacies to them. One, a boy of ten or twelve years,
was dressed a la mode (Indian) — ^breech and biff sombrero — that is, a
broad-brimmed hat. All he wanted was the head covered. I'll go
security that his ''daddy 's *' tailor's bill is small. At 11 A.u. fine shower.
The pilot says this is of daily occurrence at this seasoHt Thermometer

102

at 12 A.M. 82*^. The mouth of the Orinoco, especially on the north side>
is a net-work of heavily timbered islands. The Orinoco has five out-
lets in 120 miles. We are on the "Boco Grande" which is the main
outlet. The northern is used for the steamer from Bolivar city ta
La Guayra. The pilot-station is an evidence of the indolence and want
of energy of the generality of the inhabitants of this section. Not a
garden — ^not even a plantation patch. The cabin seems imbedded in
the natural forest — ^not 30 feet of clearing, except in front. All around
is one densely entangled and matted forest of trees and vines. At 1 p.m.
the wind died out, and the current was stronger than the in-tide, com-
pelling us to anchor. The current in the river is very strong. The
water is much clearer at this point than I expected, and is getting
potable. The Colonel became oflfended this morning with some one,^
and is " on his dignity." Dr. De La Hay has the pouts, because there
was not cat-fish soup enough to serve to his mess also. Hence every-
thing is out of the order of agreeability just at this time. I am as
serene, placid, and as patient as a man can be. I have been learning
rapidly in "the schools of experience." At 2 p.m. weighed anchor,
the tide coming in and a light breeze. At 3 p.m., thermometer 86^,
misty rain. The Orinoco is certainly the prettiest stream I have ever,
seen. It far surpasses the Mississippi. JBefore us are several islets
which dot the river, and render the scenery picturesque in the extreme
— ^indeed it is a panorama of beauty. Thermometer at 6 p.m, 86**.
"We passed two beautiful islets that were covered with massy verdure.
The land is 6 feet above high water, and towers up with the timber
some 100 feet. A man must be dead to the beautiful who is not en-
chanted. The forest is enlivened with the voices of birds. Could
every man in Virginia see this enchanting liver, surpassing every other
in beauty and fertility, but few would remain to suffer oppression on
her worn-out old fields. Words cannot embrace the many advantages
by a simple description ; words fail ; sight alone can present them so
as to be fully appreciated. The land is not low and marshy as in the
lower delta of the Mississippi, as I expected to find, but high and well-
timbered. At every turn some beautiful islet presents itself, rich with
tall, showy, and odorous verdure, and animate with birds of every hue.
We have just passed the mouth of a small river, the Arctura. On
the south is a canoe with two native Caribs in it, gliding gracefully
along. Just above are a dozen islets, which, in the light of the setting
sun, are beautiful beyond description. Anchored off an Indian village
just now, Iwallappa by name, 7 p.m. It is situated on an island in the
river. We now have, for the first time, delightful music from the
howling monkeys who are holding forth like so many Yankefe preachers.
Saturday morning, May 4th. Thermometer 79^. Clear morning.
The woods are resonant with the screams of parrots of every variety,
and they darken the air as they fly around, invariably in pairs, no
matter how large the flock. The village is built almost on the water,
and contains 20 cabins — one story, single room and shed — ^thatched
with palm leaf. At 12 A.M., thermometer 84^. At 3 p.m., the same.
At 6 P.M., 86®. We remained at anchor off the village of Iwallappa
until high tide, at 1 P.M., and I had an opportunity of going ashore.

103

The inhabitaiits do a pretty thriving trade in birds, rum, hammock
cloths, fruits, and ren^eshments, generally for sea farers, at least I
suppose the latter.

The ladies were of different hues, well formed, and some good-
looking. The adults were healthy; indeed all, except a few children,
who were suffering from the effects of " dirt-eatins." No sooner was it
known that I was a ^^ Medico," than I was called upon to examine
several little "pot-bellies." I prescribed blue mass, tonics, confinement,
and switches. If my prescription is carried out, which I think will be,
the rising generation on that island will have 2i,feding remembrance of
the "Medico." I received two eggs and a bird's nest, and three
mocking birds — ^black with yellow wings, as a fee. The birds I shaU
try to raise. I purchased a few cocoa-nuts, limes, and bananas.
Thei*e was one peculiarity I noticed ; they cultivated pinks, cabbages,
and German stocks, as exotics. There was a vessel lying off with us,
bound for La Guayra. That vessel will report our arrival in the Orinoco.

Sailed at 1 p.m. In a turn of the river, this evening, we had a
beautiful view of the mountains and table lands.

Your affectionate husband,

Henry M. Price

Sunday, May 6th.

My dear Wife. — ^At 6 a.m. we hoisted anchor. The thermometer 8CF.
Walker has just caught a singular species of cat fish, at least it is of that
genus. It is 18 inches long, with black spots, and very long antennae,
nearly as long as the body of the fish. Se caught a very large cat fish
yesterday, also. My young mocking birds are very pert this morning,
and I hope to raise them for you, Wamy, Addie, and sister Hebecca.
I understand the " Bosa Dale," fi:om New York, is at Bolivar City, and
I can send you my letters. I may also send specimens, if I can, to
Major Harris, and get him to forward to Mr Hornsey. Should I do
so, get sister to send for them at once. I will write to Major Harris
to inform Mr. Hornsey directly. I find it much easier writing on the
river than on the ocean. We are now some fifty miles up the river.
The low lands on the river are peculiarly adapted to the growth of
sugar-cane and rice. The lands beyond are much more elevated and
rolling than I expected. They must be some two to three hundred feet
alcove the level of the plains of the river, and not over three miles from
the bank of the river. I understand that barley grows well on the
elevated land, and I judge that the Egyptian wheat would succeed.
The temperature is not as high as that of the Nile, I must say I am
agreeably disappointed in the characteristics of this part of the valley of
the Orinoco in every respect. The land is more elevated and healthier,
and free from mosqidtoes, flies, and other pests. I have not, as yet, seen
an alligator or a snake. (I have just learned the name of the curious
looking fish which Walker caught, and which I supposed to be a
spotted cat fish. It is called the BaJajosa ; it is pronounced '^ Ballihosa."
(The long fin has no spine.)

104

The low land along here is elevated some five or six feet above the
highest water mark. It seems skirted as if by a well-clipped hedge, so
soHd and regular is the growth at all points. Thermometer at 9 a.ii.,
80^. We are running in close to the shore, and the flora is magnificent
on the islands and the banks of the river. Just now we saw a large
flock of " Crested Curassows," they are as large as turkeys, and in colour
a deep shining black. The islands of the Orinoco are above overflow,
and would make the most magnificent rice and sugar plantations in the
world. The Brazilian green parrot is the most common bird on the
Orinoco. The plumage is magnificent, especially the tail feathers.
They are the very things to put in little girls* *' jockey hats.*' Have
just passed a deserted settlement on an island. The plantains and
bananas were growing maguificently.. This is the recognised hottest
month, and yet not one of us have suffered from heat. Yesterday was an.
unusually hot day, yet the thermometer indicated 88® F. at 3 p.m.
The air is pui'e, balmy, and healthy, and nothing to indicate the least
miasma. The daily easterly wind is truly delightful. We are all
wearing woollen clothes, and still we do not feel the least oppression
from heat. Let who pleases come here, and they will be delighted
with the dimate. Not one of our party, but is delighted; and I
understand the same is the case with the passengers on the " Elizabeth.''
Nearly every man will report himself more than satisfied. Of course,
there are some persons of such a dissatisfied temperament that they
would not be pleased in Paradise. We are now luxuriating on cocoa-
nut milk, and lemonade made with the pnre juice of the lime.
Doctor de la Hay, who is an English gentleman, and has travelled
much, says he thinks it would amply repay any man for the voyage,
simply to see the country. Do not think I exaggerate the beauty of
the river, the magnificence of the scenery, or the fertility of the soiL
Np one can do it in justice. The birds I have are a species of Oriole;
they are called mocking birds here. They are said to be delightful
songsters. Yourself and Bebecca may feel assured that if no accident
happen I will bring you every variety" of bird and seed I can obtain.
I will bring young untrained parrots ; those trained here speak Spanish.
We have now passed into that portion of the river called the " Bio
Grande." The river widens here into a bay, some 15 miles across.
Passed a village at the beginning of the allnvial formation, called
*' Junta Piedra,'' or Rocky Point. It is elevated land, and the best site
seen on the Main River for a commercial city. It is above the
bifurcation of the mouths of the river. We may conclude to establish,
the site of a city at this point. There is 90 feet soundings here. At
present there are only four or ^lyq houses at " Rocky Point." It is
seventy miles above the ocean. Thermometer at 12 a.m., 86*^. At
3 P.K., passed a small village, "Saco Pana," of some eight or ten
cottages, a delightful site elevated about fifteen feet above high water.
Thermometer 88**. Yesterday and to-day have shown a higher degree
of heat than usual, although this is the hottest month of the year m,
this latitude. Passed a magnificent ^'Sciba Tree," one mass of
blossoms. The nut which it bears is a dye. The island of " Aragna '*
is situated between the ^' Boco Grande," and the northern mouth of the

105

-Orinoco. Steamers pass the North outlet, which run between La Guayra
«nd Bolivar city. We are now off this oulet. I find at every point
that the people are delighted at our coming. The pilot says, " Me now
get twenty-five dollar month — aplenty Americans come in — much ships
— much trade — den me get one hundred dollar month ! — our people no
work — ^no know how work — ^Americans learn us— then much cotton —
much coffee — much money 1 " This is the feeling of every one I have
seen. Passed the mouth of the " St. Catilina " river, entering on the
South, 86 miles from Crab Island. The vista opened by this river is
most beautiful to behold. Mountain seems to be packed upon
mountain, until lost in the distance. It is a panorama of grandeur and
'beauty. Thermometer at 6 p.m., 90<» F. At the point of " St. Catilina*'
river, the natives were clearing land. The trees are deadened, and the
iundergrowth packed down, ana the entire mass fired. By this process
land is cleared much more rapidly than with us. I will resume my
Journal oU th6 morrow. Farewell.

Your affectionate husband,

Henbt M. Price.

Monday, May 6th,

My dear Wife.— It is clear and warm. Thermometer at 6 a.m. 82°.
I was so shortened for space in my last that I omitted to say we saw
-and fired at a large gang of monkeys — ^the first we have seen. — ^The
4rtories of "monkey-eating*' are like some other tales — fabulous.

At 9 A.M. Thermometer 84S. Passed a large island, " Tortola," 5
miles from Barrancas. Off the point of liie island, at low tide, there is
only 10 feet water. Anchored off Barrancas at 10 a.m. Went ashore
to get clearance for Caroni, but found no orders from the Government
to that effect. Will have to go up to Bolivar city to get clearance*
The Custom-House ofiicer at Barrancas and myself know each other.
I was delighted to meet him. He sent a subordinate Custom-House
officer with us. Barrancas is a village of about 50 houses, on the North
side of the river, and is a port of entry for the North part of the
country. Our Colony is on the South side of the river. Barrancas
has a beautiful situation. — ^The Custom-House officer made me a present
of a beautifully painted gourd. The river above Barrancas affords a
beautiful view of the mountains. The range is very similar to the
Blue Eidge as seen from Scottsville at a stand point. Thermometer at
12 A.M 88*^. The natives say it is unusually warm — even they complain
of the heat — although not so hot as sometimes with us in Virginia.
There is another vmage one mile above Barrancas — ^also on the North
bank of the river — ^named " Aposterdro.'* The inhabitants are princi-
pally half-breds — Spanish and Indian. I learn from them that some of
the emigrants who went out on the Elizabeth have* gone to the mines.
The inhabitants are remarkably neat and cleanly. The women have no
mock-modesty and bathe in the river perfecth* unconcerned. Passed
the mouth of the Piacora river. The land, at this point, on the North
side of the river, is a vast arid Pami>as~-300 miles across. Just in

106

front of us are two high truncated mountains — ^some 20 miles apart,
which have the appearance of tibe separate Peaks of Otter. The moun-
tain ridges approach nearly to the river, within 12 miles of the Caroni.
The Caroni river comes in between two ranges of mountains. Passed
another ^'Bocky Point'* — an elevated truncated cone — some 90 feet
high, and 11-2 miles in circumference — ^making into the river. Just
foevond the banks are again low and level. On the Southern side the
ridges are close on the l^k. This point, and tiiie ridges, have stubbly
growth — chiefly a specie of " Bhus" — ^yielding copaL Thermometer at
3 P.M. 88°. " Old Guayana," a village, is situated near the top of a
mountain, which comes down near the river and has the remains of a
Sjpanish castle, built of stone — with regular stone parapets. It is one
of the remains of the old Spanish Colonial days. Some -500 yards from
the castle, on a rise, and near the river, is a regular stone fortlflcation,
about 100 yards round, with sharp angles. The present village is built
between the castle and fortification. It is 28 miles from the Caroni. —
Passed a very large island with two mounts on the opposite bank —
which would make a magnificent settlement. We have just regaled
ourselves with cocoarnut water, which makes a delightful beverage,
especially while feasting on bananas — ^which we have been doing. Each '
nut yields about a pint of water.

They are burning lands now, on the North side of the river for
pasturage. Passed a large prairie on the Guayana side of the river —
nigh and rolling — the first we have seen. The land on that side is all
elevated and rolling, with many small mountain ranges. We have
sailed 100 miles to-day — ^passing two banks having only 12 feet of
water. Anchored at dusk off the village of " Port Las Tablas" — ^below
the mouth of the Caroni. We unders&nd that four of the Missourians
have settled at this village. If so, we shall see them to-night. Ther-
naometer at 7 p.m. 88?. I have moved my bedding on deck. The night
air here is dry and bracing— perfectly pure. I am well convinced that
the river is healthy. The inhabitants all show health and vigour, and
have no appearance of bilious complaints or intermittents. In this I
am agreeably disappointed. The natives here are also remarkably neat
and cleanly in dress and habits. Temperance and cleanliness conduce much
to their healthy appearance. They seem, however, to have but little
industry, so far as out-door labour is concenied, and care but little
beyond actual sustenance of life — such as fish, game, bananas, and
fruits of various kinds. This is a remarkably high and rolling country,
and no evidences of morass any where in this section. The entire
valley of the river is perfectly free from any causes of miasma. The heat
of the day is tempered by Easterjy winds, and no one is oppressed by
wannth. I was surprised at the amoimt of building stone above the
alluvial foiination oi the river. Thursday, May Ist, clear day. Ther-
mometer at 9 A.M. 809. Mr. Whitman, one of the party who came out
on the Elizabeth staid on board last night with us. The mouth of the
Caroni is just above the town, and the roar of the Falls is plainly heard,
Xhe water is pure, cool, and clear as crystal. The town is on an elevated
plain, 300 feet high. Had about 1000 inhabitants before the rush to
the mines. Now nearly reduced one-halfl We shall establish a city

107

here. The gold mines are 150 miles off, in a dense forest. A good
road is partly completed from the mines to this place. The lands of the
Caroni and Upata are from 12 to 15 miles off— are very fertile, and are
the best of cotton lands— so Whitman informs us. He is a Missis-
sippian. He says that he has travelled 400 miles. He savs deer, wild
hogs, and other game are in the greatest abundance. He nas met with
no sickness. — The party with him are delighted. He says that Capt.
Johnson, who took out the party on the Elizabeth, commenced a
settlement above Bolivar City, in fine fertile lands. At 9 a.m. Ther-
mometer 86S. At 12 M. 88S. I have concluded to make a settlement
at this place ('^ Port Las Tablas"). I expect to come out again in the
&1L The wind has died out, and we are anchored until the breeze
rises again. Capt. Muir, one of the party who came out on the
Blizabethy has settled here, at ^ Las Tablas." He is a cousin of my
first wife. I was delighted with meeting him. He remained on boara
several hours, and returned in a canoe. I will resume my journal in
the morning. So adieu for the present.

Your affectionate husband,

H£NBT M. Price.

May 7th, 1867.

My dear Wife. — ^I closed my promise to you last night with Capt.-
Muir's departure to the shore. He informed me that the gold region
is between the Caroni and Upata rivers. He stated that in consequence
of so many people going to the mines, provisions in this section are high
and scarce, as m California^ during the rage of the gold fever there
some years ago. *' Las Tablas " is the shipping point for the mines.
He states that the lands of the Caroni are very fine and fertile. This-
valley was the gai*den spot of Venezuela at one time ; but is now
deserted. The inhabitants were " royalists," and, during the war for
independence, were destroyed by the patriots. The remains of many
once splendid castles, monasteries, and cathedrals, are still met with.-
We will settle and people this rich valley again. And with regard to
the people here, there is no danger from them ; they are all delighted
at our coming, And what speaks well for their honesty, he says, that
larceny is almost unknown amongst them.

We weighed anchor and made sail at 1 p.m. to-day.

Thermometer at 3 p.m., QO^F. A stiff breeze and we are moving
rapidly up the river, at least seven miles an hour against the current.

Farmers, planters, graziers, and mechanics who can and will exercise
energy and industry, will make money and live in comfort. But the
man who will not labour, who is a loafer, had better never come here.
To such all places are the same. He will vegetate here as in the States,.
a useless appendage to society. The man who has means and will
attend to his business, can do better here, in my opinion, than anywhere,
on the globe. Such will enjoy every liberty, every luxury, healfh and
and wealth. Mind, muscle, and means are all that is needed here to
render this, comparatively, an earthly paradise. Capt. Muir and

108

Mr. Whitman say they can labor as easily in this dimate as in Missonri.
At " Las Tablas," in a popnlation of between 600 and 1,000, 1 was told
there was but little sickness and not one death during the past twelve
months.

A section of 23 of our party have commenced a settlement about tweniy
miles above Bolivar, and <»U it " Oinoco City." The lands at that
point are described as beautiful and fertile. Every emigrant should
bring his family. There is no probability of suffering, and palm
<;ott£^es and dwelling houses can be erected in a very short time. Fencing
is erected of bundles of bamboo with cactus hedges. Plantations with
such improvements can be bought very low, or rented as a temporary
arrangement, until &rms can be opened, and houses built to suit the
•wishes of the settlers. I have purchased an improvement of twenty
acres, and laid out 1280 acres near it at '^ Las Taolas.'' I advise all to
settle here, or on the Caroni at present, though the great and final
settlement will be on the Couri. All of our pwty and five of the first
party have settled here. This place will command the trade of the gold
Tegiou, and is nearer the ocean. Both the Caroni and Upata rivers
afford inexhaustible water power. The water is cool, pure, and
delightful. Fish, game, fowl, and hogs are here abundant. Just above
is a fine grazing and cotton region ; and on the opposite side in the
state of i&xcelona, are large sugar and coffee plantations. Nine miles
above " Las Tablas," on the Caroni river, is the old city of Caroni, once
a flourishiug place, and still showing the remains of the former wealth
and greatness of the old Spanish grandee. I advise all our friends in
Virginia and North Carolina to select this point for settlement.
Tobacco, wheat, barley, rice, sugar, cotton, tropical fruits, grapes,
peaches, almonds, and plums all grow well here, and will command a
ready market at the mines. All should bring garden seed, Egyptian
spring wheat for seed, also barley for seed.

The yield of the mines is equal to that of California. Linen is used
for clothing; it is cheaper than cotton. Young men who have
" sweethearts " should marry and bring them out, otherwise they vnll
not be satisfied.

I will close this letter, hoping to have an opportunity to send it by
the steamer to La Guayra, My love to you and all the dear ones at
iiome.

Your affectionate husband,

May 7th, 1867.
My dear "Wife.-— I closed my last letter to you about an hour ago.
I now, at 4 o*clock p.m., resume my journal.

• ^t y^'^^ J"^* ^^^ several hamlets of thatched cottages on the

ngnt, inhabited by Spaniards who live principally on fish, hogs, and a

plantain patch. The ever-present hammock was swung out, and thev

se^ed to enjoy the very perfection of idleness. ^

The high-water mark is plainly developed 30 feet above the present

109

level. Passed two canoes, four persons in them, two of each sex. They
are Indians, I judge, from their costume, or rather want of costume,
the only covering being the usual sombrero (a broad-brimmed hat), and
a modesty breedi fastened round the waist. Thermometer at 6 p.if .
86°F. Passed several large and splendid farms, on the north bank of
the river, inhabitants lolling in hammocks, and swung under trees near
the river, smoking cigarettes and enjoying the breeze. Anchored at
7 P.M. off an Indian settlement. Thermometer 84^.

The pilot is a sharp trader. He went ashore to purchase cassava (a
kind of bread), and four of us went ashore with him. I let Walker go
also. The tent was made of upright stakes, thatched over roof with
palm. There were some eight or ten women and children, with three
men who were in a state of happy ignorance of the improprieties
of civilization. I shook hands all round, and they offered me the
evidences of hospitality — a hammock and cigars. I saw the mode of
preparing the " cassava.'^ The cakes are of the thickness of crackers,
about 2 feet square, and are dried on a large stone oven. They have
the appearance of yeast cakes, and sell for 10 cents, a cake on the spot.
We could obtain here neither oranges, limes, rum, nor tobacco, nothing
to sell but cassava. Cassava is the bread of the country, rather insipid,
but when made into pudding, spiced with nutmeg and sweetened with
sugar, is quite a good dish.

The point on which we landed contained two Indian huts. One occu-
pied by an old man and his son, both in calico shirts and sandals, the
other inhabited by a man and his wife. I saw here specimens of cotton
tree 12 feet high. They gave me some tobacco, seeds, &c. I saw their
arrows for shooting and their spears for fishing. I bought £rom them
a ham of " Peccary," or wild hog ; it is like venison. They had about
fifty deer-skins, and used large turtle-shells for trays and pig-troughs.
The old Indian said he was 110 years old.

Thursday, May 9th. Was under sail at 5 o'clock this morning.
Slept on deck last night and enjoyed a most deli^htfdl breeze all the
time. Thermometer at 6 a.m, 80^F. Came in si^t of Bolivar city at

6 A.M.

In conversation with an emigrant from Texas he stated that revolvers
were not required in an '' outfit;" but ploughs, cultivators, spades^
hoes, wagons, and farming utensils generally are. Emigrants should
bring, if possible, Egyptian spring wheat and barley for seed ; and
those who have tiie means sliould bring cotton-gins. Let it be fully
impressed upon all, that tales of '^ big snakes, tigers, mosquitoes," &c.,
are mere fictions, excepting in rare instances, and then only in swamps,
and uninhabited locahties.

Let all understand that it is only practical business men — planters,
mechanics, merchants, teachers, surveyors, &c. — that are needed.

As for health, I have not as yet seen a sickly-looking grown person.
Health is proverbial, and doctors will not succeed in their precession,
nor will lawyers nor politicians.

The people are all polite and kind-hearted— even the Indian and
negro. I advise none but doctors to go to the mines, and only such
when I feel assured they are proof against the temptation of gambling.

110

The mines can only be worked with profit by machinery. The in-
dividual miner seldom succeeds in realizmg and saving the fruits of his
labour.

We reached Bolivar city, the capital of the State of Guayana at 9 a.m.^
«nd I close this letter. My love to you and all at home.

Tour affectionate husband,

Henbt M. Price.

LETTEE FEOM DR H. M. PRICE.

"We are permitted to publish the following letter from Dr. Price : —

Ciudad Bolivia, Saturday, May 11th, 1867.

My dear Wife, — We reached Bolivia City on Thursday, the 9th
inst., at 11 A.M., and passed through the Custom House by 1 p.m., and
at once called upon his Excellency Senor De La Costa, who received me
kindly, and maoe an appointment to meet us on Friday — his brother
also received us very landly. We arranged to ascend the river Orinoco
as high as the Caura, wluch is regarded as the best section of the
coimtry. The vessel will descend to the Caroni, and land the passengers
at that point, as they intend locating there. I find all of our emigrants
are satisfied.

The city is beautifully built and has a fine cathedral. The houses
are built in a square, with an open court in the centre, with porticoes
all around, externally appearing like fortresses. The centre is planted
with flowers, &c. I went to market this morning and found it abund-
antly supplied with everything.

Many of the fruits are new. I saw numerous Indians perfectly wild,
from the upper Orinoco— nude, except red blankets over the shoulder,
I have been so engaged with business, I could not keep up my notes,
but will, after Monday. My title to the land is considered fully vested ;
and ally not only treat me with respect, but honour, I am, however,
not the least altered as to pride. There are several old Spanish settlers
here, real grandees of the Old School. All receive the Southern Ameri-
cans with the highest respect, and are anxious for us to settle among
them. All the inhabitants are more or less educated, and more polite
than our people. I feel, my dear wife, you and my dear children wil
be happy here. I am, my dear Wife, affectionately,

Henry M. Price.

N.B. — Congress has granted all I asked. I cannot write you another
letter, until I return from the Caroni.

Ill

COTTON GROWING IN VENEZUELA.

The sabjoined very interesting Eeport from Mr. Linden, Director of
the Zoological Gardens of Brussels, and also Director of the Botanical
section of the Jardin d^Acdimatation^ at Paris, to the Directors of the
English Cotton Company, supplies the best proof of the capabilities of
Venezuelan soil for the production of cotton.

To the Directors of the Venezuelan Cotton Company (Limited), London.

Gentlemen : — ^You have done me the honour to ask me my opinion
on an undertaking, the object of which is to extend the cultivation of
cotton in Venezuela, and particularly in that pai*t of the Bolivar State
bordering the river Tocuyo, in the province or Coro.

Having been entrusted with a scientific mission by the Government
of his majesty, the King of the Belgians durmg a period of twelve con-
secutive years in the various parts, extra and intra-tropical of America,
Quch as the Brazils, the Island of Cuba, Jamaica, Mexico, Guatimala, New
Granada, Venezuela, and the United States of America, I have had
opportunities of forming a sound opinion of the respective advantages
which those several States offer for the cultivation of cotton, and I do
not hesitate to declare that of all those countries, not even excepting
the actual centre of American cotton production, Venezuela possesses
within itself the most completely favourable element for the ciitivation
of the important article of cotton, which at this moment is of such
absorbing interest, not only in England, but to the continent of Europe
generally.

At a distance, by sailing vessels, of seventeen days navigation from
England and France, Venezuela is, of all the Southern continent of
America, the nearest country to Europe. It has a great extent of
coast, and possesses several ports in which ships of the largest tonnage
can anchor. Although wholly situated beneath the torrid zone, and in
immediate proximity to the Line, the northern part of this vast country,
comprised between the 9th and 11th degrees north latitude, and from
the 61st to the 76th degrees of longitude (meridian of Paris) enjoy,
with the exception of some points on the coast, a healthy climate,
moderate temperature, and exemption from those excessive heats ex-
perienced on the low plains of the Southern parts, known under the
name of " Llanos.'*

The regions suitable for the cultivation of cotton, are situated on
plateaus, several hundred feet above the level of the sea. The cotton
plant grows wildly in several parts, and I have been able to acquire the
conviction that the staple is equal, if not superior, to the cotton grown
in the South of the United States. I shall be happy to prove this
assertion, by sending you a sample picked on the spot.

I travelled over and explored Venezuela in every direction, during a
period of three years, and thus you will conceive that the Bolivar State,
which you possess for your enterprise, was not exempt from mv in-
vestigations. I approve of a great part of the land which you nave
selected, and I particularly wish to call your attention to that part of
the country known out there by the name of '^ Mesion,'' which 1? com-

112

raised between the riyer Tocayo and the Mountain chain of Aroa.
Watered by the Tocayo on the one side, and by many streams descend^
ing from the mountains on the other side, these lands have upon
them a system of irrigation particularly suited to the cultivation or
cotton.

The soil is of prodigious fertility, and the climate leaves nothing to
be wished for in respect of salubrit^. The sides of the mountains are
covered with magnificent forests, with abundance of dry woods and
timber suitable for all building, naval, and cabinet-making purposes. It
is the chosen spot of the celebrated milk-tree, or ^alo de vaca)
" Calactodendron utile," from which the natives, by making incisions
in the trunk, obtain a milk as nutritive as agreeable. The neighbouring
peninsula of Paraguana, beins thickly populated, and several other
points on the coast of Coro, wifl supply you with sufficient free labour
for the commencement of your cultivation. The wages are about Is. a
day.

The river Tocuyo, navigable far beyond the limits of your property,,
will facilitate the direct carriage of your products to the port of Puerto
Cabello, which is only 40 miles distant.

Puerto Cabello is effectively sheltered from those gales and hurricanes
which ravage the West Indies. Ships of the largest tonnage can
receive their cargo there.

The Tocuyo district consequently offers all desirable guarantees for
the success of your enterprise — fecundity of soil, natural irrigation,
healthy climate, neighbouring population to supply you with labour, .
and finally, remarkable easy shipment for your produce.

I am persuaded, even if the war had not broken out in the United
States, and thus aroused England to develope the growth of the cotton
plant in other parts, that sooner or later, and from the price of things,
Venezuela was destined to become the most productive country in
cotton of the two continents of America.

It requires but the presiding genius of Europe to stimulate it, and
to disclose the inexhaustible resources of its sou.

I shall feel happy if this information contributes to such a result,
and if it induces you topersevei'e in your greatly praiseworthy enterprise, .
wluch has all my sympathy, and which I look upon as the beginning
of a new era for the "extension " of cotton production, while at the
same time it will tend to the future prosperity of Venezuela.

Your enterprise is worthy of all the support of the Venezuelan
Government, who, it cannot be doubted, will fisivour it in every possible

way.

I terminate by offering you my further services in anjrthing in which
I can be useful, and beg of you to believe me to be, Gentlemen, &c.

Parisj 21st September, 1861. J. LINDEN.

The Mbteopolitan Becobd's Post Bag. — Jiew York Correspondence..
The causes of emigration from the South. The war and the con-
dition in which it has lefb the Southern people. Venezuela and the
inducements it holds out. Its climate, soil, and mineral wealth.
Tyranny of the Federal Govenunexit and the advantages o£
expatriaticair

118

New York, November 23rd, 1866.

To the Editor of the Metropolitan EecorcL — ^The subject of emigra-
tion was one which engaged the attention of the Southern people
immediately upon the surrender of our armies, and* the disastrous
termination of the attempt to establish for ourselves au independent
and constitutional government.

Mexico and Brazil were th^i the two principal points towards which
the defeated Confederates turned in their despair. But without
organization and means, it was vain for isolated individuals to expect a
full realization of their hopes in either country. Political causes alone
woxdd have made the colonization of Mexico a failure. That of Brazil
must, for the reasons stated, give greater promise of success. But the
sporadic efforts of mere individusds, as such, to direct a general move-
ment to any particular point must prove abortive ; it is only by organi-
zation, and the systematized use of labour and capital, that any
permanent results can be accomplished. In view of these facts, and
impressed with the conviction that the Southern people would be
driven, sooner or later, to emigration as the only escape from the per-
secutions of a race, i. e, the Yankee, which, always regarding them with
the bitter hate engendered by envy, would, with the malignant vin-
dictiveness of fiends now pursue them, if possible, even beyond the
grave, certain soldiers, and other supporters of the lost cause, have
associated themselves for providing a refuse for their countrymen.

A munificent grant has been obtained from the Government of the
United States of Venezuela, and with this as their charter, a company
has been organized upon a plan very similar to the British '^ East India
Company " for the full developement of the resources of their territory.
With the right to colonize these lands, comprising an area almost equal
to that of the entire State of Texas, and more than three times greater
than the whole of " New England,'' ai'e conceded ail the privileges of
citizensiiip, with many others even not enjoyed by the natives, such as
exemption from taxes and imposts, and from involuntary service to the
general government. The emigrants settling there under this grant
^tified or perfected on the 26th day of June last) become citizens im-
mediately bpon landing, and when they shall have arrived in sufficient
numbers they will be entitled to fr'ame a constitution for themselves,
and with rulers of their own selection ; the tenitory will then be admitted
as a State or States, with all the sovereign rights and prerogatives
thereunto pertaining.

Such, in brief, are some of the political advantages offered the dis-
franchised white men of the free ! ^ United States of America,'* so
oalled. 2%ere you have ^* representation without taxation f* here *' taxa-
tion without representation'' — a slight difference in words, yet how
potent in signification ! Of the commercial and other rights guaranteed
to the *' Yenezusla Comfant" it is unnecessary here to speak. The
inquirer williKxm be satisfied that the inmiense forests of timber, cabinet
woods, and dye stuffs, and the vast tracts of mineftd lands, rich in the
precious ores, akme offer sufficient inducements to tempt even the
cautious (aqMtalist to investment. *

I have dwelt ihiu lengthily on this bnuidi of the Bubjeclv that the world

114

may know somevhat of the motiyes which should unpel to a choice of
Venezuela, or rather of its territory of Guayana, as a free home, in
preference to other points to which our unfortunate friends, in greater
or less numbers, are now directing their steps. Our people should not
disperse. If they scatter they become weak and despised, wandering
adventurers, exiles without nationality or a name, and without a purpose
beyond mere passive existence. If we concentrate, a glorious future
will reward our eflforts. "We can thus preserve our distinctive charao^
teristics, retain our political institutions in their purity and power,
and become a nation once more, virtuous and prosperous, our race
uncontaminated by admixture with inferior blood, and our offspring
uncorrupted by association with the despicable rabble of reformers
which the fate of war has let upon us here. Never before had a con-
quered people such opportunity for rapid recuperation and for the
peaceful accomplishment of the great objects which the cruel contest
forced upon us have failed to secure — ^tne full enjoyment of a free
Government of our own choice, and escape from the domination of a
&natical and imscrupulous faction.

The hand of Divine Providence which had fisdled to sustain us in our
terrible struggle for independence, seems now to point the way to our
deliverance. For His own wise purposes, Grod permitted us to be de-
feated in one way, that we might in another gain all we sought, and at
the same time benefit another people and another land. In the histpry
of the world are many instances oi the rise of nations, consequent upon
the disaster and apparent ruin of their founders. The shores of the
Mediterranean were peopled by exiles, and the persecution "of our
ancestors in their native homes, resulted in the more rapid developement
of this continent. Like the brave-hearted men from whom we are
descended, we claim the right to abandon our native land rather than
submit to degrading distinctions or tyrannical exactions where we
should be equals and rulers.

Ab one of the disfranchised — a soldier whose good fortune it was to
witness the glare of the first shell which hurtled against the walls of
the Federal Sumter, and to escape surrender until the last flag was
furled beyond the waters of the Mississippi— I can ask the attention of
my friends in the unrepresented States, my old comrades of the late
Confederate army.

What, then, is our position to-day ? Eighteen months after the last
soldier of our loved Confederacy had given his parole to take up arms
no more, with the pledged the part of the victors that " he was not
to be molested as long as he observes the laws in force where he
resides f eighteen months after the formal signing by both parties of
the conditions upon which our struggle for a distinct and separate na-
tionality had ceased — conditions alike binding upon the victor and the
vanquished — ^we find that the war is still waged by our enemies with
relentless vigour and ingenuity. Defenceless and submissive, yielding
to every requirement which the strictest interpretation of our pledges
could be tortured to imply ; nay, more, submitting, for the sake of
peace, and as an evidence of sincerity, to unjust demands, newly devised
as rapidly as successful imposition stimulates our conquerors to

116

fresh exactions, our States are still denied representation in the Federal
Congress, while our people are taxed to the fullest limit of fiscal power
for uie support of a government in which they are permitted to take no
part either by a choice of rulers or voice of representatives. For twenty
weary months the great statesman and patriot whom you chose as your
Chief Magistrate has been " caged like a felon/* at one time shackled,
at all times sick and feeble, and for no other crime than that of being
your leader, and for no other reason than to heap indignity upon indig-
nity, that the proud people of the South might sink beneath the weight
of degredation thus accumulated. Witnesses have been suborned by
high officials of the land to sustain false charges upon which he might,
with a show of legality, be condemned to die the death of a felon. And
now, knowing him innocent, and with the hope of trial deferred to
deadly heart-sickness, without shame and without pretext on the part
of his perfidious jailers, the unconvicted "prisoner of State" yet lingers
in coimnement, having already " served out " a term of imprisonment
greater than that made the penalty of many high crimes. Others more
fortunate than he, in direct violation of all precedent even, and certainly
of the terms of their surrender, have been executed for pretended
military offences, of which their accusers were themselves surely guilty.
Others have escaped the hangman, broken in health, only after long
imprisonments.

Patient under every provocation, and with a chivalric sense of honour
unparalled in history, the true men of the South have long hoped for
rehef. Knowing that magnanimous individuals were found even in
the ranks of their enemies, many had looked forward to the day of the
late elections as one of redemption from political thraldom. But with
what result 1 Notwithstanding the best exertions of the conservative
men of the North, Radicalism has triumphed everywhere, and the fetters
of the white men of ten Southern States, reduced to the condition of
conquered provinces, are more securely rivetted than ever. Power
once possessed is reluctantly abandoned. Power once unjustly exercised
&st grows to despotism. There is no longer hope for the South. No
fixture there for her sons, save only such bitter portion as it may please
their conquerers to force upon them.

In all probability there can never be in our time an armed conflict
between political parties at the North. There is too great a disparity to
expect anything but submission from the weaker. Separated from the
unprincipled hangers-on who have sympathy for the South only from
motives of self-aggrandizement in the possession of political offices of
which they are now deprived, her sincere Mends — ^real, constitutional,
liberty-loving men — are comparatively few indeed. The shedding of
blood, at all times to be deprecated, would be the greatest -calamity
/Which could now befall the South. Such strife at the North would lead
to a war of races there, for the Badicals would surely ijicite the blacks
by an appeal to their worst passions, and thus secure them as active allies ;
and when the South in her desperation and agony attempted self-defence,
(zU parties North would unite to " <]^uell the rebellion," to "suppress the
insurrectioti,'' and our real friends, if not forced to take arms against us,
would at least be compelled to silent acquiescence again. This is the

I 2

116

teaching of experience within the last five years, and histoTT" but repeats
itself.

There, then, seems no hope for those who would be free ; for those
who still cling to cherished principles in spite of rain and defeat ; for
those who never abandon truth and justice because they are crushed for
the time. No hope save in expatria/tion. Nor should this act be
denounced as desertion by our friends who think otherwise. We surely
have the ri^ht and the means to judge as well as they. We believe
that they will yet come to us. We go to prepare for them new and
happy homes. Nostalgia shall not overcome, nor dangers appal us. To
the Confederate soldier, tutored in the rude school of norrid war, hard-
ships have become a pastime, and now, having lost all else, we will at
least preserve our honour.

The liberal concessions, political and commercial, made by the Govern-
ment of Venezuela, places it far beyond them as the most attractive
region of earth for the disfranchised Southron. There, removed from
the agitations which must for at least one generation disquiet our lost
country^ he may regain his political rights and recover his pecuniary
losses. Hardships and privations may be encountered there as in all
new settlements, but what are these to the pains and penalties which
threaten us here ? What the promise which would hold us in serfdom
here, to the peace and prosperity which, with independence, await us
there. Such is the Sure reward oii^e united efibrts and steady persever-
ance of men who would still be free. Aid each other with counsel and
with means, and with God's blessing we will make the wilderness blossom
as the rose, and enrich not only ourselves, but the hospitable people who
welcome us among them as equal and independent citizens of a free and
actual Kepublic. — ^J. F. Belton.

From the St, Louis Times, Editorial,

VENEZUELA.— THE ADVANTAGES OF EMIGRATION AND
COMPARATIVE PROFIT OF COTTON CULTURE.

THE DISINCLINATION OP PLANTERS TO ENGAGE IN ANT OTHER

OCCUPATION.

The emigrant carries with him his pursuits and habits, which become
a pfui; of him — along with his household goods — wherever he goes.
More especiajjy, is it the case with the agriculturist, this dass are
peculiarly those who belong to the lately desolated South. If you find
a CaroHnian in the extreme northern part of Missouri, you will find a
cotton patch about his premises.

A South Carolinian in Texas or Arkansas, sidll affects bis rice fields.
For over ^ half century the staple product of over eight millions of the

117

people of North America was cotton. The whole Southern intellect
was bent upon its culture to perfection. The application of machinery
and steam power furnished It to the world from the Southern States
lower and of better fibre than from any other country. It is not neces-
sary to discuss why this .material prosperity of the South — whose
people leading the guileless life of agriculturists, shunning and despising
trade, shed such benefits on the entire world — should have provoked
that feeling of envy and enmity in the breasts of her northern brethren,
which has led to her being despoiled and desolated. She is a wilderness,
made so by the torch of the incendiary, and the ravages of the robber and
spoiler. Her people are not only robbed, but disfi^nchised ; and every
species of wrong that can be conceived is heaped on her. Not content
with her desolation, with despoiling her of her slaves, and changing
those domestic habits which had made her prosperous, without pauper-
ism, and, comparatively, without crime, a lawless majority of the States
having interest in manufactures rather than agriculture, have placed
upon her such burdens as makes prosperity impossible. The specific
ta:^ proposed to be levied on cotton — to be returned to the manufac-
turer, if spun in this country — and the export duty, are but bounties
to the New Englander ; and a burden put on the crushed and despoiled
industry of the Southern States, will make the enugration outward
rather than inward. The planter we have seen follows his staple, his
lines of emigration and colonization are within the localities in which
the plant has become, or is capable of becoming, acclimated and produced
with profit. The Virginian follows the pai*allels in which the tobacco
leaf is a staple product, and we can trace the Virginian and his tobacco,
from the Potomac to the Kansas.

But, we wanted to say, that the throes of sorrow, and the desolation
of the late war, of wrong, oppression and usurpation, not yet over —
onlv lulled — ^will have the e&ct of sending colonies, as of old, into new
and untried regions of the Western Continent. In this, history only
persists in reproducing hersel£ The unrest and uncertainty of civU
strife, as the !rresident intimates, must follow the defeat.

The regions of South America, north of the equator, l3dng in our own
waters, in thfe American Mediterranean, must receive American
colonies. American arts must flourish in the hitherto neglected
regions, and energy and industry, guided by energy and purpose, will
build up prosperous cities of refiige for the friendless and homeless
exiles whom the coming strife must drive abroad.

It is upon these facts and these principles, which are a part of a chain
of causes and sequences, no human logic can refute, nor human wisdom
preyent, that we may look forward to the necessity, real or imaginary,
which must establish American and English settlements in S)[>ani8h
America, north of the Equator.

The portion of Venezuela lying south and east of the Orinoco,
adapted to the culture of Southern staples, abounding in mines and
navigable rivers, with rich forests, and with perennial pi^ures, capable
of supporting a denser population than any part of Europe, is open and
invitmg to colonists. The emigrant bears with him there his own
language, his own pursuits, his own religion, and his own political
institutions.

118

The inyitation extended by the Government at Oaraccas to emigra-
tion, is iipon terms so liberal, that it cannot be conceived how they
could now be changed without detriment Everything that free insti-
tutions can afford is held out in the way of politic privileges. The
material aid, in a modest, but sufficient amount, is proffered to sustain
the first emigrants, and immunities from taxation and military services
till such a time as the Colony will in all probability become firmly
established. These are things, looking at the stormy future for our
country, well worth considering. • « «

For the Constitution and Union.

VENEZUELA— THE FIKST OR PIONEER COMPANY OF

AMERICAN EMIGRANTS.

THBIB ARRIVAL Am) BECSFTION IK VENEZUELA.

After many difficulties, detentions, and annoyances, incident to great
and new undertakings, the party ascended the noble and grand
" Orinoco " river, and iQl seemed charmed with the lovely scenery, and
the salubrity of the climate.

"Our party were perfectly enchanted at the little village of
Barrancas, on the river; the wonderful beauty of the site, the
luxuriance of the soil and beauty of the foliage, the magnificence of
the great Orinoco, its cleai* cistern-like water, reflecting the stars at
night like a mirror, its innumerable islands and banks clad in
unrivalled foliage, showing every shade of green from yellow to dark
blue, would puzzle any traveller to make choice of a plantation.
The gay-colored and noisy parrots, macaws, and other birds darting
through the air, and filling the woods with song ; the unparalleled sky
at sunset, claiming the attention of the most matter of fact parties, all
combine to make it impossible to describe the scene, so I must not
attempt what I cannot do justice to.'^

On arrival at Puerto Las Tablas, about two hundred miles from the
mouth of the Orinoco river, a point of considerable trade, we were
treated with much consideration, and on our departure honoured with
a salute from a small field piece. Our arrival at the capital of Guayana,
" OiuSad Bolivar," was hailed with every mark of welcome by the
press, the hospitable officers, and the generous citizens ; and the annexed
communication to the President (or as we would say Governor) was at
once transmitted.

m
n

<!
fl

|3
H

119

Ciudad Bolivar, March \6th, 1867.

TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT OF THE STATE
OF GUAYANA, U. S. OP VENEZUELA.

YOTTE EXCELI^NCY,

As the representatdve of Henry M. Price, of the United States of
America^ and the leader of the emigrants by whom I am accompanied
from the Southern portion of the United States of America, I beg
leave to present my credentials in the following manner: —

1st. The enclosed letter of introduction from the Honorable
Morencio Bibas, Secretary of Legation to the U. S. of America.

2nd The enclosed letter of introduction from the same gentleman
to Senor Miguel Aristiquieta, a Senator, who is, I undei'stand, absent.

3rd. My appomtment as a Director of the Venezuela Emigration
Company, under date of December 17th, 1866, by virtue of authority
of the President and Grantee, H. M Price, and the endorsement of
our passport free of charge by your Consul at New Orleans.

4th. I beg to mention favourably to your notice, the names of the
parties accompanying me, with the intention of Colonization. (Here
follows a list of 51 names.)

We have left our native country, the ** Cradle of Liberty," in the
hour of her prosperity ; in the calm that has succeeded four years of
civil strife and war, and present to our friends and the world at large,
the hithei'to unknown instance oi American citizens banding together
for the purpose of seeking homes in a foreign land, in preference to
remaining in the country of their birth. Then, Sir, acquainted with
the history of the United States, the birth-place of our Washington,
the land of refuge for the oppressed of every nation, who sought
protection beneath the broad folds of the stany flag, can you fail to
understand how deep an incentive actuated us in the course we have
pursued ?

It would be wnmardy in me, however, in accepting the hospitality
of your country to allude to those difficulties of my own through which
we have all passed, and would relieve myself of further criticism on my
native land, and return to the subject of colonization, by remarking
that political difficulties and wrongs in aU countries, whether actuat
or imoffinary, have always had the effect of producing voluntary migra-
tions to foreign but friendly lands, the mccesa of which has never
been known to fail, and the remU of which has ever yielded benefits
and wealth to the country receiving the emigrants.

Of one thing, however, I can assure you : the generosity of your
Government in making this dazzling grant to H. M. Price and his
associates ; the brilliant r^orts floating thsoush social circles at home,
of your Eden-like country and climate, and of the hospitality of your
countrymen, has appeared so like a dream instead of a reality, that we
who have led the way as pioneers, are looked to by thousands at home

120

for the verification of those &ct8 set forth in Dr. H. M. Frice^s cir-
cular, which, at present, seem to our people at home so romantic
and imaginary.

I now look to you, being referred to you bythe Honorable Florencio
Bibas, Secretary of Legation of the U. S. of Venesuela, for an endorse^
ment of this grant, which he assures us is correct, and on which the
future of ourselves and friends at home depends, so far as regards the
corUinttcUion of American Emigration to the State of Guayana.

And with the most earnest feelings of respect and confidence in your
Government, I beg the privilege of throwing myself entirely upon your
superior wisdom, judgment, and advice, in the developement of our
project of emigration, and have no hesitation in pledging to you in ad-
vance the heartfelt thanks of my Mends, and their Mends, for the
advice you may volunteer me as to what future move I had best make.

I wish at once, in conformity with my instructions and the wish of
all my companions, to locate within the boundaries of the grant on the
Caroni River, within 20 miles of where the said river flows into the
^ Oronoco,^' in as eligible a position and as near the mouth as we can
effect the location, a reserve of Land, or as we would say at home a
pre-emption ; as I shall proceed on reaching our point of destination
to settle a miniature city, as a nucleus around which our anticipated
Mends can settle on arrival.

I regret any want of foresight which my superiors at home have shewn
in not having sent an especial committee in advance, who could have
better represented the undertaking than the writer ; and who could
have selected a location according to your pleasure and advice.

By your informing me definitely what lands are unoccupied and
advising me what locality to select, I shall consider that you add to
the great kindness and generosity of your Government. To feel more
obliged than we do would be utter impossibility.

By reference to the date of departure from Saint Louis, and a state-
ment of our long delay, and long passage at Sea, and the great expense
incurred, you will see that the majority of the people with me are re-
duced to almost absolute want, an incident not frequently occmring with
Americans, and generally brought about by casualties, for we are an
industrious and proud people, and I blush to expose the well accounted
for cause of our momentary distress. We seek in your country only
that respect which our conduct may deserve, and that reward wMch oar
labour m&y prod/ace. We seek to exchange kind feelings with your people,
and tiTist we may be mutually useful; and now, Sir, if we may be allowed
to bask imder the shade of your flaf , and be assured of its protection,
will teach our posterity the virtue of gratitude, and refer them to yovr
nation as an example of hospitality.

Your obedient Servant,

Fredk. a. Johnson^

Eepresentative of H. M. Plrice and Asaodates^

121

The first inlamatioii of the reception of the above was an appropriatioa
of 1250 pesos. The vessel we had chartered was allowed to depart with-
out a solitary charge of pilotage, custom-house fees, whar&ge, &c, and
the following reply was auly received (as per interpretation).

Estadoft Unidos do Venezuela^ Oiudad Bolivar, April 7, 1S67,

Ano 4c de la Lei y 9 de la Federacion.

Freaidencia Del Es6adoA de Ouaycma El Primer Besignado Nvmero 1002.

Senor Frederick A. Johnson. — I have the pleasure of acknowledging
the receipt of some valuable letters of Mardi 16th, also of the documents
enclosed within, all of which I have particularly noted.

The agreement executed in Washington by the Secretary of Lega-
tion of the United States of Venezuela, M. Florencio Bibas, has been
ratified, and all the conditions are satisfactory in regard to this Govern-
ment.

It is Hideed- pleasant to hear the satiirfaetion you express for the Idnd
welcome to yourself and your coxmtrymen, as bestowed by the Govern-
ment and people of this State. It is the duty of the former to welcome
all emigrants according to their position, and to afford them every
facility and convenience they may require.

The Goven^ent of this State trusts you are satisfied with the small
assistance rendered the immigrants under the circumstances of those
temporary requirements frequently incident to immigration.

The countiy anticipates very much from yourself and your valuable
countrymen ; however it can l>e made manifest to all the United States
of America, how the immigrants have been received in this oountty, and
of the good vqXL of the State Grovemment of Guayana, in order to
attract by all possible means a veiy profuse immigration, that wiU
come to participate *in the gifbs God has given to this beautiful and
rich temtoiy. So you have offered in your last fiskvour.

Dios y Federacion, (Signed) Antonio Dalla. Costa.

In my next I will give a description of the lovely and fertile country
on the Caura river.

From the St. Lowis Times, May 11, 1867.
LETTER FEOM VENEZUELA.

ARRIVAL OF THE ST. LOUIS COLONY— HOW THB SMIORANTS ARE PLEASED
WITH THE COUNTRY — THE NEW GOLD DISCOVERIES — COTTON — THB
FROSFECTS, &C.

Oiudad Bolivar, Guayana, yenfieiiiel% March 23, 1867«

(To the Mv&m <^ihe Times.)

As you showed so much interest in u% as the '' Pioneer Company^ of
emigrants to the XJt S. of Venezuela, and endeavoured,, while we were
at St. Louis> to aid us in our desire to reach thia £ikVOured land, we

122

oatturally snppose that it would be agreelible to you to learn from us
our impressions of the country and government.

In consequence of the misapplication of our fdnds^ and the delay con-
sequent Uiereon, at New Orleans, we have been exactly three months
en route for this place, at which we were received with the politeness
and cordiality characteristic of the people. The Crovemment and Senor
John B. de la Costa, the President of the State, have fulbr complied
with their agreement and confirmed the grant to Dr. H. M. Price and
associates. They did not deem it best to give us the whole of the
10,000 dollars, i,e, about £2,000 sterling appropriated by them for oar
relief, should we need it, but as promptly as possible placed at our
disposal 1260 dollars, i,e. about £2bO or one-eighth of the same.

Part of our company, composed of the " bone and sinew" of the expe-
dition have, under the auspices of the Bepresentative President, Senor
John B. de la Costa, formed themselves into a company called '* The DaUa
Costa Mining Company," and proceeded to the mines in the immediate
neighbourhood of the place we shall locate at^ and from their known
industry and inteUigence, we are confident that they will beat the
primitive miners of this country, who have succeeded, however, in
showing some rich specimens. In one instance, in the jneighbourhood
of this city, one of our party went inl» the work with a will, and asto-
nished the natives by doing more work in one hour than twenty had
done in a day. It was in a locality, however, not rich in quartz, and
not being within our grant was only tried to see the indications ; still
the natives make a living by pouncQng the quartz in a sort of mortar
and our mining will astonish them. As it is, the colonists have the privi-
lege to import for their, own use and that of the colony, free of duty for
five years. This is always supposing that they obtain the necessary
certificate showing that they do actually belong to the American,
English, and Yenezula Trading and Conunercial Company, or hold land
warrarUs from Dr. H. M. Price.

I have no time for more, but will keep you advised of our prosperity
and remain, very truly, your obedient servant, ^

FrEBK. a. JOHNSOlf.
ANOTHER LETTER.

Ciudad Bolivar, March 23, 1867.
Dear Sir, — Our party reached here on the 14th instant, after a long
voyage, all in good health. Captain Johnson and ten or fifteen others
of the company, are going to select a town site, which wiU probably be
within twenty-eight miles of this place, on the Orinoco river. Myself
and others of the party are going to. make an exploring expedition to
the gold regions, starting out from the mouth of the Caroni river. The
mines are distant from there one hundred and twenty-five miles. I
enclose some cotton taken frt>m a tree four or five years old, growing in
a yard without cultivation. Almost everything grows in a wUd state ;
they plant and gather, but do little else to crops. Sugar is worth about
two cents per pound, and coffee twenty cents per pound. "We have
been kindly received, both by citizens and authorities of the country.
The grant is secured. Will give more news after I see more of the
country. Truly yours, John Whitman.

ISS

From the St Louu Times, U, S. America, May 23rd, 1867.

VENEZUELA.

Thb Incentive to Emigration ; Safety of Business Enterprises ;
Stability of the Government ; Healthfulness of the Climate, &c.

By permission we publish the following Translation of a Letter just
received from Angostura, or Ciudad Bolivar, the principal town in
Guayana.

Ciudad Bolivar, March 25, 1867.

My dear Sir, — ^The recent arrival at this port of immigrants from the
United States, and the first instalment of Mr. Austin's machinery for
the gold mines, together with the engineers in charge of the same,
may make some general information, as to the condition of things
in this state of Guayana and Venezuela, interesting to you and your
friends. Eirst, as to Guayana.* Throughout all the various com-
motions which have disturoed South American States, more or less,,
since the independence 'from Spain in 1815, this state iias enjoyed

5rofound repose — ^no civil wars, no armed bands, no internal dissensions.
!he State embraces all the territory south of the Orinoco river, and
this grand stream operates as a mighty wall, separating entirely its
people and their interests from those north of the river. Its in-
habitants are mostly engaged in cattle raising and agricultural pursuits,
and hence are scattered in small communities, their interests identified
with oi*der and peace, and their sympatliies drawn towards attracting
immigration, capital, and skill from abroad, to develope their immense
resources. Many of these cattle estates are from ten to twenty leases
square, having on them from three to ten thousand head of cattle, and
thousands of hordes and mules, though in some parts of the country
are large estates devoted to cotton, coffee, cocoa, tobacco, and sugar
cultivation — labour is cheap, ranging from twenty cents to one dollar
per day. The peon or labouring class is one of the most quiet, docile,
honest, and industrious of all the people of South America. The soil is
rich and fertile beyond description ; much of it great rolling savannas,
interspersed with dense tropical forests, and well watered by rapid
streams running over strong courses. The roads through the State
are generally good ; always in order for mules or horses, and through
ten months of the year practicable for wagons. The climate is healthy
in the extreme sense of the word, and of such a nature that the white
man can and does live here and labour without any difficulty. There
can be no greater mistake than that of fancying sickness as attendant
upon this magnificent land. It is more healthful than any part of the
united States, and the great list of diseases so often prevailing in the
North are almost entirely unknown in these favourea latitudes. The
instances of longevity are remarkable, and the people generally hardy,
healthy, and capable of enduring fatigue and exposure to a degree
entirely inconceivable to your more efifeminate Northern ConstituUon,,

I have had a soldier, driving my sumpter mnle, start at four in the
afternoon, on foot, keep up with the party on horseback until nine at
^^ght, go into camp, start again at five in the morning, and travel
all day until six in the evening, with only one hour's halt at noon ;
making in that time over eighty miles, and after one night's rest, start
hack again on foot, making the return journey in tmrty-six hours,
considering himself well pkid with a gold dollar^ and coming in at his
journey's end as fresh as possible.

The Government of the state is excellent ; it is a fine Democracy,
and as stable as any government in existence. The President, Senor
John Dalla Costa, just elected for the next four years, is the most
popular man in the state. He served continuously for seven years,
went to Europe for two years as foreign traveller in 1865 ; returned in
January 1867 ; and was immediately re-elected for four years more.
Under his enlightened administration schools and colleges have been
established and supported, public improvements pushed forward, and
every encouragement offered to the employment and security 6f capital,
and trained and skilful labour from foreign countries. Southerners are
in high favor throughout the countir, and their advent will be
welcomed with enthusiasm, and all the power of the Gov^imient
enmloyed to aid their establishment.

The country up the Caroni and Carmi rivers, and back of Caicara,
is beautiful and fertile. The cotton, coffee, tobacco, and cocoa
produced are of excellent quality, and the^ inducements held out to
agricultural efforts are of the most flattering character. In a country
where food is produced spontaneously, where building and clothing
^30st so little, and where Nature does everything for the husbandman, it
will be very strange if well-directed labour, aided by moderated ca^tal^
does not return its usual advantages.

The mineral wealth of this State is immense ; its gold mines now yield,
with the rudest system of working, and entirely without 'the aid of
machinery or scientific direction, 200,000 dollars, i^, equal to about
£40,000 to £60,000, and we expect the most brilliant results from the
exertions of Mr. S. B. Austin, to whom the general government of the
State of Guayana have made very liberal concessions, and whose first
shipment of machinery and implements is now in our port.

/3t, Louis Times, June 2ndy 1867.

FBOM VENEZUELA.

An importantLetter from one of the Saint Louis Emigrants — Confirma-
tion of the Grant to the American Colony — ^ACity laid out — ^The Soil
— ^Opportunities for making Money — The Gold Mines — ^Indigenous
proauctions — Living one dollai* per week — ^Flattering 'prospects —
Inducements to Emigrants.

United States of Venezuela, American Colony Guayana.

City of Orinoco, April 23rd, 1867.

JSdUors SaifU Louis ^toie8:--The great grant to Dr. H.M. Price and his

125

associates, has been effectually bound, with, all its enonnous privileges^
by Captain Frederick A. Johnson and his company of American emi-
grants, who are now acknowledged as a colony by the Government.
Captain Johnson, the accredited representative of the colony, and one
of the Directors of the Venezuela Company, we regret, and are happy
at the same time, to say, returns to the States to further the interests
of this miniature American colony, and bears with him the esteem of
his friends and confidence of this Government, together with official
evidence of the confirmation of the existence of an American colony in
Guayana.

We left the capital of the State Ciudad Bolivar, so called after the
great hero of the country. General Bolivar, whose memory all hold dear.
We purchased a small sloop, now named the City of Orinoco, and pro-
ceeded to Borbon, about 7 leagues above, to the Sub-Prefecto, of which
district Captain Johnson had letters from the President and others.
There we were received with that generous hospitality and cordiality
for whicfl the Spaniards are noted. Senor Parra being absent (the Pre-
fecto)wewere received with open arms by SenorsCana, Barrios, Gonzalez,
and others, whose kindness in making up hunting parties, and vieing
with each other in showing us the beauty of the country, will not be
soon forgotten. They gave us a site for our city within a mile of their
own little town, and seemed anxious that it should be swallowed up by
the extension of our own. However, we concluded to move 6 miles
west of Borbon, on a very fine piece of land, and go immediately to
work improving it. It is rich black soil, with plenty of building
material, and bounded by three streams of fine water. In sight is the
fine grove of oranges, lemons, mangoes, serapie (vanilla), cocoa nut,
coffee, and other fruit trees, belonging to Senor Bruner,whoplaced himself
and household at our disposal. And within our limits is a sugar mill
of the most primitive style. We were feasted on oranges, bananas,
fresh milk, &c. at the first, and sugar cane and sweet water at the other.
Senors Cana and Barrios say the cane grows from 9 to 10 feet high,
and in some localities as high as 12 feet. Every one seems delighted at
the prospect of our settling in the country, but do not seem to realize the
improvement in the value of their own property, which will accrue
from it. Further out Senors Pompellon and JPaneda received us very
kindly, and showe<i us some of the finest cows I have seen for some
years, the cattle here being larger and in better order than in our South-
ern States. The whole agricultural interest of the countiy seems to be
almost abandoned by the vast discoveries of gold at ^ Criatel Neuva
Providencia," 150 miles from us, which seems to turn people's heads.
The discovery was first made by a man's purchasing of an Indian a
haunch of venison, in the foot of which there was a piece of gold. The
purchaser,.an Englishman, bribed the Indian to show him the spot
where he shot the deer, and being convinced that there was sur&ce
gold, hunted until he found it. Many of our party have gone there,
but we are as yet without letters frt>m them ! Th^ reports, as soon
as received, will be transmitted to you without delay, iftiey are how-
ever, but a few among 4000 or 6000 — ^and it may be some time ere they
find gold. The true source of wealthy however, is the ctzhivation of the

126

soil. That must pay here. Stock raising, also ; and in this delightful
climate — ^perpetual summer, with cool morning and evening breezes, no
work to cut fodder and hay, as the pastures are green the year round,
I can come to no other conclusion when I see so many natives earning
a competency from the natural productions of the soO, and no labour
that can be called such.

I think I explained in my last that a plant called Hucar, or the bread
tree furnished the staple food of the country. It grows wild, but better
with a little attention. The natives make a. row of holes, stick plants
in, and wait for God to send a crop, which He always does. In forty
days they cut off large pieces of root from the Hucar tree, like yams
(if it does not injure the tree), scrape and grate them, and then put
them in a long tube or bag, made of the skin of some animals, or even
in bark, well plaited, and hung to the cross beams of the house, with large
weights attached to the bottom to press out the juice, which is not whole-
some. The residue is then made into batter, and mixed into pancakes
from the size of a barrel head to that of a hogshead. These are put in
neat packages of 20 and are ready for shipment and sale. We are
becoming very fond of this bread, and understand it will keep a year.
Papillen, the sugar of the country, is run into wooden or clay moulds,
ana sold in loaves of three or four poimds at about 10 cents, each. This
sugar well manufactured would defy competition. The sugar mill on
our location is wooden entirely, and worked with a yoke of oxen.

If a sober industrious man will bring a little for a start, seeds,
garden tools, and a little money to buy a little stock, he cannot &il to
become wealthy, and Bolivar is a fine market for our productions.
This may be some time reaching you, as Captain Johnson has business
at Trindad that may delay liim.

(Signed,) F. P. Dbrbishire.

Pbok the St, Louis Times.

rR?)M VENEZUELA.

Letter from a Saint Louis Emigrant.

Ciudad Bolivar, June Idth, 1867.

My dear Sir, — I wrote you about a month ago informing you of our
.arrix^al, and that we were about visiting the Gaura river to examine
lands in the vicinity. We returned some ten days since, having as-
cended the Caura as far as Maripa, delighted with the results or our
expedition. The Caura, which is the first river above this city of any
great importance, is a fine wide navigable stream, abounding in timber
suitable for ship building and other purposes, copaiba, and other drugs
and dyes of value for exportation. The lands are very rich, and suited
for the production of any of our staples and cereals. ' At Maripa the
country is a rolling prairie, extending as far as the eye can reach, and
we were told by the natives that they stretched as far as the Caroni,
intersected by small streams, and broken by clumps of timber scattered
here and there only in sufi&cient quantities to meet the wants of the

127

fldttler. The country there is ready for the ploxu;h, requiring only the
indnstry and energy of onr people to make it the most productive in
the world. It is well suited for stock farms, and we saw cattle of the
native breed showing conclusively what could be done in that way. I
saw rice of good quality grown on the prairies (called savannas here),
by merely burning off the grass, and scratching holes here and there,
in which a few seeds' are dropped, and then left to nature to mature^
The natives, left to themselves, do not work ; ploughs are unknown, and
I have scarcely seen an agricultural implement of any kind or a man at
work outside of this city. But I am satisfied they will work, with the su-
perior intelligence and activity of our race to direct labour. The natives
are kind-heiolied, hospitable, and temperate, anxious for immigration,
and I have yet to see the first evidence of dissatisfaction or distrust in
our coming here. The population in Guayana is scant, and will
require a few thousand Anglo-Saxon agriculturists to develope the riches
of a most magnificent ooimtry, too long left in idle and improductive
waste. Those of our people who have gone to farming are now doing
well, and are contented, wishing only mr the arrival of more of our
countrymen.

We are moreover convinced by all we have heard, that the real
'' Eldorado " has not yet been struck ; it will be found higher up, about
the Pariene Mountains.

The rivers abound in delicious fish, and the woods with game.
Clothinff is not a necessity and tobacco grows everywhere. Mechanics
are needed, and in this city can obtain employment and the preference
at the highest wages. Indeed there is no competition here in any way,
and any pursuit ^nll be profitable to men of industry and steady habits.
We have been exposed to the climate in every way, have walked many
tmiles in the sun, have been di'enched with rain, wearing wet clothes
for hours, and not one of us have been sick. This speaks well for the
Hsalubrity of t^e climate. Truly your friend,

J. F. BSLTON.

The above letter is from CoL J. F. Belton, a gentleman well known
through Hie South. His opportunities for observation have been good,
therefore what he says of the country can, we think, be pretty mfely
reHed upon. [Eds. Times.]

LETTEE FEOM CAPTAIN F. A. JOHNSON.

St. Louis, June 22, 1867.

Col. R H. Musser Vice-Pf esident Yenezuela Company :

Dear Sir, — ^Your request for instructions to emigrants to Vene2niela
as to the grant to Dr. H. M. Price and his associates, has been bound by
arrival in Guayana with the pioneer company of emigrants, and alTtiie
stipulated privileges to emisprants under the grant wiU be stricUy com-
plied with on the part of the Government, as per official documents
>exhibited herewith.

1S8

The first exclamaticMi of a stranger as he ascends the Odnooo river is,.
'^Sorely this mnst be the Garden of Ekien ! *' Even the oostome of the-
natives is an evidence that the apron of fig leaves would be adequate ta
cover the actual demand for doiiiing.

Enough has been already said of the delightful climate, lovely seeuery,
and prolific soiL At the capital, ^ Ciudad Bolivar," all the refinement
of modem society and style of dress presents itself But nature rests
in all its primitive weall^ and beauty, waiting for the hand of art and
industry to reap a large reward for labour bestowed. A country, even
thus blessed^ needs occupants, and the certain fsicilities to work with.
Let persons take with them whatever tools or implements they require
to pursue their trade or avocation. Those who have nothing must
commence, as all over the world, by working for others.

Boating, with light draught lioats, on the Orinoco riv^, called
Launchey, pays well, and large profits are made in trade with the
interior.

Steam^boating wiU rapidly develope the country and pay handsomely.
The steam-boats on the river prior to the revolution all made money,
I have heard ; now, nothing remains of them but their wrecks.

Tobacco is cultivated by the natives (two crops per annum I am
informed), and the cigars manufactured therefrom sell at about two for
a cent. Their flavour is fine, though imperfectly made.

Three crops of cotton, at least, can be made ; and I have found from
actual observation, that cotton plants in bloom bore ripe cotton ready
for picking. Kelatlve to health, we are sufficiently far from the coast
and elevated above the level of the sea to insure us a regular and cool
climate, and on our voyage, and up to the time of my departure, not a
case of sickness had occurred. The health of the country is represented
as excellent, which feet was apparent from the number of grey headed
old men and women, in proportion to the population. I met with one
old gentleman, within ^ve miles of our location, who glories in his one
hundred and second year. Your obedient servant,

Fred. A. Johnson.

Departure of the Schooner United States with an addition to the Colony..

Encouraging particulars.

New Orleans, July 6, 1867.

Editors St. Louis Times, — ^The schooner United States, bound for
Bolivar and the American colonies on the Orinoco, Venezuela, has all
her people and stores aboard, and will tow down to the mouth of the
river to-night. The United States is a staunch and j&Mstnaailing vesseL
She has been fitted for passengers, and is in every way well fixed and
adapted for the purpose for which she sails. Among her passengers
are Captain A. S. Thurmond, of Tenuis, member ni the present legis-

129

lature of that State, for the counties of Goliad, Befugio, and San
Patricio. Captain Thurmond goes out as a/varU courier in the interests
of a large circle of friends and acquaintances to make explorations in
the Price (xrant, particularly with a view to examine its agricultural
advantages^ The captain is p>eculiarly competent to take charge of the
interests of his friends in this enterprise, he being an old and early
settler in Texas, who has grown up with that country, and been through
all the vicissitudes of border life as squatter, ranger, and planter, as
well as. having travelled over Mexico, Arizona, and California. Major
Leonard C. Johnson, of Chicot county, Arkansas, late an officer of
General John Morgan's staflT, accompanied by Mr. Gilbert W. Sweet of
the same county, ffoes out on a mission similar to that of Captain Thur-
mond, with the mrther intention of remaining and preparing for the
reception of his friends when they shall follow him. The last-named
two gentlemen found upon their arrival here, very much to their mutual
pleasure, a fellow countr3rman, Mr. Wm. Wells, already bound for the
same destination, and for a similar purpose. Mr. Michael Fagan, of
this place, and Mr. John Douglas, late a practical miner, from Cali-
fornia, are going together as permanent emigrants. They take with
them a variety of agricultural and mining implements, and enough
flour and bacon to provision them until they shall have become dieted
to the usual and cheaper living of the people of the country. This last
precaution, indeed, is taken generally by all on board. Two others
going together from this city, Mr. Julius A. Neil and Mr. Joseph A.
Brandlin, are outfitted with various agricultural implements^ and go
prepared to stay. Mr. Bobert W. Musser, of Missouri, goes as a per-
manent emigrant. He will devote several months to explorations, in
company witn Captain Thurmond, and will, while taking care of his
individual interests, prepare and communicate to the public at home
minute and detailed accounts and descriptions of the climate, soil,
people, manners, conveniences, prices, and prospects of the portions of
the grant he explores.

This enterprise, which has not been brought prominently before the
public, is yet attracting such general and wide-extended notice, and
inquiry and interest, and there seems to be so general and wide-
extended a willingness on the part of good people to depart from the
United States ; wiUin^ess and even eagerness to depart whenever
there shall be a certamty of a land and climate as good, prices and
taxes less, and money better ; there can be but little question as to the
result of favourable and full reports from Musser.

I will write you again when I reach the colony by return of vessel,
and as frequently thereafter as occasion and opportimity shall suggest
and permit.

From the St, Louis Times,

EEPORT OF SPECIAL AGENT, JOHN M. VAN COURT.

To roy Fellow Countrymen of Missouri and other States. — In com-
pany with Messrs. Price, Belton, Watkins, and others, I visited and

180

i«

explored several eligible points for the settiement of immigrants, from
£(mvar, on the Orinoco river, to the village of Mamripa on the Canra
river, a distance of about 150 miles. We fonnd not only the Orinoco,
but the river Canra, open and nnintermptedly navigable to the village
of Mauripa, situated some 50 or 60 miles above the month of the latter,
and, according to the statements of intelligent natives, navigable for
150 miles above. We made frequent landings, and fpund the country
above the highest water mark. The timber land, commencing at the
^water's edge, ranges back fix>m 2 to 5 miles, it being ample and suitable
for boat and house bidlding, fencing and fueL Immediately on the out-
sorts of these timber ranges commences the South American savannas,
or, as ve call them, prairies, whidi, rising gradually as they recede from
the river, extend over many many leagues. They are traversed by
tributaries of main streams, which, though not navigable, famish at all
seasons abundance of water for man/ useful purposes. Upon these
smaller streams are also found a narrow skirt of woodlands, generally
of smaller growth, vet consisting of the same variety.

When we reachea the little vmage of Mauripa, it was just at the end
of the dry season, and I can testify that^ instead of presenting a barren,
sunburnt appearance, like our prairies in autumn, tney were completely
covered wiui the finest grass, and of the brightest and freshest verdare.
The cattle we saw were large, healthy, and ht ; the natives appeared
healthy and happy, and this can be made the best stock raising country
in the world.

In and near Mauripa, I saw tobacco, cotton, and a great variety of
fruits growing to gigantic proportions, without any other cultivation than
sticking seeds in 9ie grouna. Sugar, cotton, chocolate, com, rice, and
every kind of southern vegetables, and every variety of tropical fruit
grows there to the highest state of perfection with little or no cultiva-
tion ; and our friends at home would be thanked for a contribution of
fruit seed.

The natives labour but little, knowing that Nature will continue re-
producing from the old stock all they require for consumption. The
rivers au abound with a variety of nne fish ; the woods and
prairies in game of many kinds. Why should they work, knowing:
little of commerce, with nesh, fish, and food at home, and more fruit
than they can ever consume, by their merely putting the seed in the
ground. But, with an Anglo-Saxon working class, provided with me-
chanical and agricultural implements, and a determination to use them,
with the advantages of Nature, the liberality of the Government, and
the hospitality of the natives, the success will be boundless. The
sturdy pioneers who went first are generally contented ; and breasting
bravely the inconveniences which they anticipated at the outset^ and
which they will soon overcome, rest happy in the knowledge, that from
so small a beginning they have sown the seed that will grow into a tree,
beneath whose kindly shade thousands can repose in peaceful security,
and bless those who were the humble instruments of so much good.

John M. Van Court.

181

(From the Richmond Enquirer and Examiner.)

LETTER FROM VENEZUELA, SOUTH AMERICA.

Angostura or Bolivar City, Guayana^

Yenezula, Aug. 15, 1867.

To the Editor of the Enquirer and Examiner, — ^Bein^ in a "writing
mood, and hoping that a letter from one who was identified with
Virginia's true sons in her late struggle for State rights and independ-
ence, but who has now taken up his permanent abode in this country,
will not be unacceptable to you and your readers, I am induced to
write this letter. Our little party of emigrants sailed from New
Orleans via Charleston on 25th of May, under the auspices of the
Venezuela Emigration Company (Dr. H. M. Price's Grant,) and although
we have had a very tedious and remarkably long voyage, feel more
than compensated by the grand and fertile appearance of this country,
the salubrity of the climate, and our future prospects in our adopted
land. We have all the rights and privileges of the citizens, and have
been very kindly received by the governor, officers, and citizens.

We leave in a few days, as soon as we get our ti-ansportation outfit,
for Paraguay, a small village on the Paraguay river, some one hundred
and fifty miles in the interior, in the gold district, where we shall locate
our land (1,280 acres each) and open the land for farming purposes.
And while some will farm, others (and we have a geologist and several
practical miners with us) will prospect for gold.

The climate here is superb — never so hot or cold as in the United
States— the thermometer ranging from seventy to ninety-five degrees,
and the soil rich beyond description ; all kinds of grain, vegetables and
fruit can be raised here continually. Of corn alone the natives, who
are very indolent, make two crops a year, of from sixty to eighty
bushels to the acre, which readily finds a market at eighty cents specie
per bushel, and is now worth in Bolivar city two dollars per bushel.
They plant here of com five to nine stalks to the hill, and the hills
four feet apart, and between the hills plant rice, sugar cane, and casale,
a sort of bread fruit. Peas, potatoes, melons, &c., grow in the same
proportion, and no risk or danger of drought or frost.

Gold and other rich minerals abound sdl over the country ; the only
thing neceseary is to have capital and energy to develope it, which I am
satisfied will'snortly be here. Cattle in this country are numbered by
the million, and about two hundred miles above here, ofa the Orinoco
river (one of the grandest, widest, and deepest rivers in the world,
navigable for vesseb of the largest tonnage) they can be purchased for
one dollar per head, and the natives kill them merely for their hides.

As the people of the South have advantages in this grant of Dr.
Price's which people elsewhere have not, it is our desire to have
Southerners and Anglo-Saxons generally to join us, and they may rest
assured they will be received as members of a common family, aad
will find people of congenial sentiment and the same intelligence and
refinement they left behind them. We want no di'ones, but good

K 2

132

people able and williqg to work. Fanners and mechanics are par-
tictdarly desirable. For particulars concerning privileges and a mode
of getting hei'e, those desirous of emigrating from England can procure
the necessary information from Jas. ]^ederick Pattison, £sq^ Director-
General for this Grant in England and Europe, The Crescent, America
Square, London, E.C., or in lESchmond, Ya., U. S.

Hoping I may see some of my old friends from Virginia and England
in the New Colony, I subscribe myself, your's tuly,

John Lank, Jun.

Beauty and Luxuriance of the Country — Comparison of the Sections with.
Portions of the Southern States— Description of the Cities, Planta-
tions, and Natives — ^The Inducement to Emigration.

(From our own Correspondent.)

City of Bolivar, Guayamo,

Venezuela, Oct. 4th, 1867.

Editors Saint Louis Times : — ^Because of various delays and mishaps,
our party, which left New Orleans July 6th, arrived here only on the
2nd instant.

From Trinidad we came here on the British steamer Regno FerreoSy
one of the two comprising the Caraccas and Bolivar mail. We entered
the Orinoco by way of the mouth Macarea, which leaves the main river
a little below Barrancas, and enters the sea due south of and in sight of
the south-western point of the island of Trinidad. The delta of the
Orinoco deserves more than a passing notice, when considered with a
view to occupation of this country by Anglo-Saxons.

As the mouth by which we entered was an inferior one, I take for
granted that it was also at least an average one in the particulars I
shall describe. Where the waters of the Macarea join those of the sea,
begins the dense green growth of tree and vine, and thence to Barrancas
is one continued panorama of all that is beautiful in combination of
foliage. In some edition of Paradise Lost I have seen plates represent-
ing &e Garden of Eden. They might have been taken at any point of
eiuier side of the Macarea, from the sea to Barrancas. Fifty miles from
the sea we came to Indian settlements, and soon after to Spaniards
plantations of'sugar, coffee, cocoa, and plantains. These latter were so
few as to be but occasional dots on the river banks, yet they were
flourishing so magnificently, and the character of the banks were so
generally the same, that it was evident the entire region of the deltA
was not only susceptible of occupation and cultivation, but was a region
more favoured by nature than the sugar lands of Louisiana, more
favoured in being equally productive, easier to clear and prepare for
cultivation, and less liable to overflow.

That it is equally productive with the most favoured parts of Loui-
siana is evident to the sight. That it is easier to dear, the absence of
anything similar to either cypress or cottonwood, and the general

133

appearance of the growtli make apparent to the sight also. That it is
less liable to overflow is evident from its altitude and its proximity to
the sea. This region (the delta) comprises, from Barrancas by way of
the several mouths, a region of about 6000 square miles, being some-
thiiig like a hundred miles north and south by sixty east and west.

This is the region I had prepared my mind to see as a desolate waste
of mud banks, sluggish water, alligators and mosquitoes. The desolate
and waste parts I have just given you. The sluggish water I found to
be a fine deep current, almost clear, pure, and cool as that of the Upper
Mississippi ; the mosquitoes so few that we were not annoyed by them ;
and alligators, not one, though I believe low water is the favourite time
of the alligators, whose existence here in large numbers is a foregone

fftCt.

Above Barrancas we find high rolling prairie lands, coming to the
river banks, with occasional stretches of timbered bottom between the
high lands and the river.

Ciudad Bolivar, old Spanish Angostura, I find to be a town of com-
fortable, substantial, and handsome brick and stone houses of one, two^
and three stories high ; stone paved streets with brick sidewalks, a
cathederal that would ornament St. Louis ; market plaza, forts, and
barracks ; stores and shops with supplies equal to the demand ; and a
harbour, large but not good, floating a hundred vessels of all grades
from various parts of the world, principally from the upper Orinoco
and its tributaries, some from the Negro, through which we can sail
from here to the Amazon. The inhabitants of the town, of whom there
are about 15,000, are principally natives of pure Spanish blood,
educated, polite, and handsome. The residences of these people and
their persons indicate the possession of wealth and knowledge of its
uses. The other class of inhabitants, Negroes and mixed, present no
appearance of squalor. The Negroes here, of whom the proportion is
not large, have been free so long they have got over it, and having now
filtered to their position, are civil and well-mannered as Negroes are
in any part of the world.

The town is supplied with water from the river. It is carried in
kegs on asses. Wheeled vehicles are not used here, because, I suppose,
there is at present no necessity for them. Something in the architecture
differs from that of the United States, and as the mode of living differs,
because of proper reasons, arising from the great principle of demand
and supply. The architecture of the States seems to be based upon the
points of display and comfort ; here upon those of indoor comfort and
elegance. Our life here at the hotel consists of perfect quietude ; access
to a large airy public room on the second floor, contaming a billiard
table, and opening upon a broad stone floored balcony extending the
entire front length of the building feeing the river, coffee with bread
and cheese at five to seven in the morning, breakfast at eleven, and
dinner at five.

Beyond what we saw at the delta we have not been attracted by the
appearance of the river banks for agricultural colonization, and those
lands at the delta are peculiarly such as offer inducements to Anglo-
Saxons.

134

Captain Thurmond and the ArVftnaftg exiles will go next week to the-
Faragua conntry, four days' jonmej with asses. This Paragna. conntry
is shown on the map to be a common centre for nine navigable tribu-
taries of the Aro ana the Caroni. It is described as being high, cool,
and fertile, producing coffee, cotton, and wheat. The Arkansas boys
will stop there, and the Captain will come down the Aro with a Tiew^
to finding abetter river point for the settlement there than this, and he-
will make general examinations with views both to agriculture and
routes and modes of access to a market.

Yours truly,

EOBKRT W. MUSSSB.

Letter from Dr. Julitts P. Clements to Bev. J. A. Doll, of

SOOTTSVILLE, YlROINIA.

Villanow, (jeorgia, November 23rd, 1867.

Dear Sir. — Having just returned firom Venezuela, I suppose you
^ould like to know something of my observations, expeiienoe, and
opinions in reference to that country. Your request of my brother to
forward you my letters or copies thereof, is the foundation for this
supposition, and not my presumption.

So fax as the face of the country is concerned and its productions, it
is all that any one could wish. I have seen com that would yield, at
least, one hundred bushels per acre, and that, too, which had never
been ploughed, and had only been hoed once. Peas, beans, &c., may be
thickly strewn among the com and will give an abundant crop. Cotton
grows better than in any of our Southern states, and is of a very fine
quality. Tobacco of the very best kind flourishes there. In truth,
everything we can raise here grows to perfection there. The climate,
during the dry season, is quite pleasant ; the thermometer never getting
as high as it does here. The country generally is well watered, and the
water is perfectly pure, and has not the least bad taste. The inhabitants
are quite inoffensive and very kind, though very indolent and worthless
to society. The Government appears to be perfectly Eepublicai^ in form,,
and well administered. The officials seem to do all in their power
to forward the emigration enterprise. The Governor Jno. R Dalla.
Costa, of Goayana, is an accomplished and educated gentleman. To
him we owe many thanks for kindnesses. The sold mines of Guayana
are certainly the richest in the world, and wifi fiilly come up to the
statement in your circular, viz : '^ an ounce of pure gold to the pound
of quartz,"

We, tjie party who went out on the Ben Willie, kept together, and
settled near a village on the Paraguay river bearing the same name..
"When I left Paraguay, there had not been a momenvs sickness among
our party.

I will write you again if you wish to learn anything more.

Yours traly,

Julius P. Clements, M.D..

135

[We learn from the agent here that it is pojE«ible a steamer will be
on the line some time in January. — ^Ed. Begister,']

The Price Grant — ^A Voyage up the Orinoco — General descriptioii of

the State of Guayana^ &c.

BT AN EMiaRANT.

To the Edited of the New Orleans Times.

New Orleans, November 26, 1867.

Ha^g just returned from a voyage up the Orinoco to the territory
granted by the €k>vemment of Venezuela to Dr. H. M. Pric», of • Vir-

finia, and his associates, I now proffer you this brief sketch of the same»
oping that, if it be favoured with publication, however uninteresting
to your readers g^ierally, it may at least prove profitable to that numer-
oua class of our Southern fellow citizens who at present propose
emigrating to foreign and particularly South American countries.

In common with a large majority of these, having despaired of ever
seeing anything like order grow out of the confusion into which our
unhappy country was thrown by the revolution ; and after having in
vain Ixied to reconcile myself to the new regime^ I began to consider
how bad a thing I would accept in exchange for the evils then endured,
and concluded finally that I could not be worsted to swap with any-
body short of Old Nick.

Therefore, with this most serious resolve, having done up into portable
shape some necessary articles of clothing and a few warlike implements,
I bade &rewell to the scenes of boyhood's happy days, and, about the
1st of February last, found myself in the Orescent Oity in search of
some new country to adopt, in which life might be beg4 a&esh, and
under circumstances better suited to the taste and more favourable to
the prosperity of a peoi^e proscribed at home.

The superior advantages of a low latitude, among which are ite peou-
liar adaptation to the staple commodities of the world, its endless varie-
ties of fruits and vegetable productions, and the far-£ained hospitality c^
its people^ added to the desire long entertained of being in a tropical
climate, soon decided me to cast my lot with the many who were look-
ing to the wilds of South America as the field upon which to regain the
status irretrievably lost in their struggle for independence ; and I was,
by good luck, more fortunate thafti many bent on the same enterprise
imder similar circumstances, and in like condition : for, having made
the acquaintance of a most gentlemanly agent, Mr. B. P. Van Oourt,
without the usual loss of time, or a heavy outlay of money, I was imme-
diately provided with tolerably comfortable quarters on board of the
staunch schooner United States, bound with Southern emigrants to the
great equatorial Eepublic of Venezuela. But as the body of our pas-
sengers were said to be awaiting the arrival of the vessel at Wilming-
ton, N.C., we put to sea for this port, and accomplished the passage
wil^out any occurrence worthy of note, save the ordinary share of

136

calms and head winds, interspersed with the nsual supply of squalls
and rough seas.

I will confine the subject of the communication to a general descrip-
tion of the country itself, its superficial appearance, and such matters as
relate most intimately with its soil, climate, resources, the variety of
its productions, and its capabilities or adaptations to the wishes, ex-
pectations, and necessities of emigrants.

There are few countries that do not, on a more intimate acquaintance,
fail in .some degree to realize the expectations created by first im-
pressions, particularly if those impressions are as favourable as those
unprmted on the beholder^s mind by a first view of that grand pano-
rama of the Orinoco. Yet Guayana is an exception ; for however
pleasing the first sensations, however lively the first impressions, or
however sanguine the first hopes, the after convictions consequent upon
a closer scrutiny, soon satisfy the mind that the most vivid imagination
could never have conjured up that magnificent prospect of a most
majestic river, winding like a tortuous vista formed with a waving sea
of perpetual verdure, and flecked like the starry home of heaven with a
galaxy of pretty little islands, whose frondage of living green has never
felt the rigours of a winter's blast. The ma^c charms of that bright
picture shall never fade ! For, it was in truth the reflected image and
living representation of one of the most beautiful and picturesque, as
well as majestic rivers of the world, the Orinoco, which, rising among
the fastnesses of the Parima mountains, whose virgin forests have
scarcely ever been trod by the foot of man, winding around the jagged
footspurs of the Andes, and fed by many tributaries, eventually grow-
ing to ,an uncontrolable flood, pours its mighty volumes into the
Atlantic ocean and Carribbean Sea.

The Orinoco, although not generally conceded to be the largest
river in the world, will compare favourably in length, depth, and width
with the noble Amazon or the great Father of Waters. Besides, for the
purpose of commerce, manufactures, and agriculture, it yields the palm
to none, as it is free of obstruction, and almost uninterruptedly navi-
gable to its source, and waters the most extensive and luxuriant valley,
without exception, in the Western World* Subject to no sudden
change, it begins to rise about the vernal equinox, and for six months
of the year continues gradually swelling to its greatest height. Then
it slowly begins to recede ; its waters swaying incessantly, until the
time has come again for the opening of the flood-gates in the moun-
tains, caused by the rains of that season and the annual melting of the
snow among the aerial peaks of the Andes, and the influx from its
numerous large tributaries.

Its banks, though comparatively low near the coast, are densely covered
with the rank vegetation peculiar to a tropical climate and humid soil.
And, as far away as the eye can reach, on either hand, that unbroken,
illimitable line of forest is seen to extend. And, without interruption or
the slightest variation, the same impenetrable wild wood, rising from
the very water's edge, hides all else from sight, and stretching over the
broad expanse of countless leagues, does not even begin to confine itself
to any recognized boundary, until far above where the Orinoco sepa-

187

rates into the aeveTal outlets through which it debouches into the ocean
and sea. Its landmarks, though becoming better and better defined at
every onward footstep, rise so gradually from the midst of that dense
mass of tangled creepers and thick undergrowth, as to render the
change almost imperceptible, until the distance of perhaps one hundred
and eighty miles nas Deen attained, or near the town of Las Tablas.
Here uve banks are &r above overflow, and the first large body of high
table-land near the river is seen. However, there are several towns^
many villages and small settlements all the way down that seem to be
above the ^ghest water mark ; but as a proof that it is not objectionable
in other respects, or at least as regards health, it is the sylvan abode of
several tribes of friendly Indians, who live in peace and happiness,
easily procure all the subsistence they desire, and present that active,
vigorous appearance, .for which the wild tribes that roam our western
prairies are so deservedly noted.

The town of Las Tablas is about two hundred miles from the mouth
of the Orinoco, and situated on the left bank of that river, within hear-
ing of the continual roar of the falls of the Caroni. It is the site first
chosen as the nucleus around which to gather the bone and sinew of
emigration ; and is at the same time intended as the future emporium
of wealth and the busy mart into whose lap flow the gold from the
mines at Caratal, the vegetable commodities of the interior, and the
accumiilated heap of marketable produce gathered along the two rivers
for many miles above the falls.

These, though coming very far short of Niagara and Montmorepci in
grandeur, are well worth seeing ; and are certainly almost as re-
markable in some respects as either of the above. Commencing near
the old deserted mission and ruins of Oaroni city, the Caroni river breaks
through a winding gap in the mountains that lie along the Orinoco,
and run transversely to the course of the former stream, and thus forms
this continuous line of most beautiful waterfalls, which rarely ever
extending entirely across the river, are first on one side and then on the
other, thus presenting an impassable barrier to the navigation of a
fltream whose passage is perfectly free from obstruction from the head
of these falls for a long distance above. Yet, although continuing for
at least the distance of fifteen miles, it is thought by the speculative
that they more than compensate for the interruption to a continued
passage, by affording a natural water power, that might, with some
mbour, be made to subserve the purpose of steam for that whole section
of the State, and at far less expense to the factor. For this reason, and
on account of the proximity of the rich gold diggings at Caratal, which,
being worked by several thousand people, offer a good market at present, -
and the prospect of a better in future for all kinds of cosmestibles, some
of the emigrants have made this their halting place, and are taking the
steps preparatory to making it the place of their permanent abode.

The Caroni river is classified among the streams known in Guayana
as Blackwater. However, it is well tasted, and considered very whole-
some, and when taken tip in a glass or other transparent vessel, it loses
the dark caert which distinguishes it in a body, and presents then the
appearanoe of the most limpid spring or weU water. This distinction

188

does not arise from any filthiness or impurity of the water itself ; bnt
from the dark appearance of the surface of the riyer, wfaieh is supposed
to proceed partly frx>m the soil through which it mns, and mainly the
great abundiUQce of sarsaparilla and other color-imparting herbs that
grow along the banks of the riTers of that class upon their bank% and
often in the yery water's edge.

Above old Caroni city, the Caroni runs through some of the most
beautiful country and finest lands in the whole state of Quayana.
Including the gold mines of Oaratal and Guasipati ; it extends from
the Essequibo to the Faraway rivers, and is represented as a succession
of grass>grown savannas, broad level timber tracts, luxuriant valleys,
excellent pasture ranges and fertile bottoms, intersected by occasional
mountain ridges. Beautiful, fertile, and £udubrious ; w^ watered^
well timbered, and opened to the enterprise of the worid ; it offers
the most inviting field of industry frt>m the variety and abundance of its
mineral and vegetable productions.

From Las Tablas to Bolivar the banks of the Orinoco oontinue slowly
to increase in height ; and, except an occasional barren plain, a few
isolated knolls, and h^e and there parallel lines of long low ridges^
the circumjacent country is a perfect type of that most magnificent
tract lying between the Caroni and Paraguay rivers. On the banks of
the latter sti*eam, a colony of Southerners has just been established,
which bids fair to outrival all previous attempts at settlement^ and
whose prosperity alone is sufficient evidence, not only of the good taste
and sound judgment of the party who made the selection, but of the
decided superiority of this chosen spot over all other portions of
Guayana, at least with regard to the facilities for a market by the easy
and quick communication with the gold mines, Las Tablas and Bolivar.

Bolivar, the capital of the state, a place of perhaps fifteen or twenty
thousand inhabitants, is seen from below at a distance of fifteen or
twenty miles. Proudly perched upon one of the two hills, which, lying
on opposite sides of the river, nscrrows its channel so much at this point
as to have given rise to the city's former name of Angostura ; it is
emphatically the city of that country, there being, in truth, none other
worthy to dispute the title. Prettily and substantially built of stone^
concrete and adobe, on a solid rock foundation, it is at once the seat of
wealth, learning, and goyemment, and the market place for the whole
countiy. All marketable produce from the interior, and eveiything
brought into the country firom abroad is concentrated there, and there
exposed for sale or barter. Its people are, in every sense, the people of
the country ; their language, manners, and peculiarities are identical,
and the city in short is, in all that relates to the people and their
attributes, the political, social and moral condition of the countiy, a
perfect miniature of tho state itself.

Above Ciudad Bolivar the country has assumed the general ap^
pearance, and in fact, all the characteristics that distinguish those broad
savannas, that cover at least three-fourths of thj^ surface of the interioac,
Guayana. These, resembling in many reeR)ects the prairies of Western
Texas, are generally perfectly level, clothed in the most luxuriant gnaa,
and stretch far away to the horizon^ yet frequently rolling like iJie

139

waves of tiie ocean or broken by long lines of low rocky ridges that
end in the dark forest-clad mountains.

All these peculiarities appear in turn, and serve greatly to diversify
the sceneiy; and except where the barren sandy types predominate, it is
adapted either to grazing or farming purposes, and is second to no other
land of the count^.

New Orleans, November 26, 1867.

^ Mr. Editor, — Beginning at the mouth of the Orinoco, the topography
of the coast belt, which extends many miles away on either hand, and
leagues into the interior, presents one unbroken level, covered with tall
trees, thick undergrowth, and creeping parasites, threaded by numerous
small streams, which, almost ever on a level with the surrounding
Bxuisuce, water a most humid and prolific soil. Then, advancing up
stream, the face of nature continues to assume new and most pleasing
features ; the temperature and soil change ; vegetation alters, and the
land itself has gradually attained a higher elevation, until its altitude
must be sought among the snowy peaks around Bogota.

The soil, from the rich alluvial deposit of the coast, first changes to
the dark loam found along the outskirts of the timber belt, then becomes
a light sandy yet fertile uppercrust on a red clayey bed. The surface
of the countiy, from a monotonous level, is now a rolling high prairie,
then alternate valleys, and sharp stony ridges, and the broken footspurs of
the mountains that tower above. The temperature also has undergone
very perceptible changes, assuming in turn every variation from
equatorial to polar. And, in truth, from the coast to the Andes, every
soil, the climate of every zone, and the various characteristics peculiar
to each, appear in rapid succession, and disappear as quickly to give
place to that next in order.

Then, again, upon the limits of the fisirthest verge of the plains, com-
mences the timber, which was at one time wholly lost to sight, but
which now, in proximity to the sources of all the larger streams, and in
the Parima mountains and along the whole line of the Andes, extends
into a broad belt of the deepest darkest forest in the world. It is here
that the forest trees attain to the most prodigious size and incredible
height ; and, among them we found, in the greatest abundance, the
finest cabinet woods, dyestuffs, medicinal barks, roots and herbs,
and all the different varieties of the most useful timber trees known.

It is here that the strangest animals and rarest birds of bright and
gaudy plumage find a sure retreat, in solitudes whose silence has never
yet been broken by the voice or eye of their inveterate foe, where the
foot of man is yet to be planted, and where this lord of created beings
has yet to attest his supremacy by conquering the dangers and dim-
culties which still unsubdued remain to beset his pathway. Here also>

gerhaps, lies hid among the unprospected fissures, and in gulches that
ave never yet known a sluice, the glittering heap of that precious
metal which is often seen cropping out so temptingly from contiguous

140

boulders, as almost to say oome and try, delve deeper, and thy labours
shall be amply rewarded.

Thus, from mountain to sea, extends one broad inviting field, whose
resources, although as yet comparatively undeveloped, are already suffi-
ciently known to assure, from its unbounded stores of wealth, a good
return to the adventurous, industrious and persevering, for all their
perils and privations. The unlimited natural resources of the upper
forest belt, the untold wealth that would spring from the introduction
of the immense herds of cattle that might wax fat and multiply upon
the luxuriant pasturage of the hroad savannas, and the countless ri<mes
that lie latent in a soil to which are indigenous the staple commodities
of cotton, tobacco, coffee, susar, rice, and many other articles of com-
merce, whose equivalent is their market value in gold throughout the
world ; moreover, the manifold blessings and great prosperity that must
inevitably ensue when the arts and sciences of civilization are brought
to bear upon these powerful natural agencies, fill the mind with wonder,
and leave the imagination too rife with speculation to draw a fair
inference of the glorious future of this peculiarly favoured spot. But
the field widens, and is already too broad to find adequate description
in less than a closely written folio volume. Therefore it would perhaps
prove less profitable to multiply words upon generalities than to con-
fine my remarks to such objects as fall more immediately under observa-
tion, and such as apply more particularly to the information required
by those who propose venturing to see for themselves, or are disposed
to peril the attempt on the representation of others.

The vegetable productions of this country are too numerous to find
mention here, comprising all that are peculiar to a tropical climate ;
beside, some indigenous to a more northerly latitude, which may be
grown as exotics in the higher regions bordering on the mountains. The
natural productions consist chiefly of rich and valuable timber, orna-
mental and dye woods, which abound in the greatest variety throughout
the extent of the upper forests ; also, india-rubber, cacao, copaiba,
sarsaparilla, ginger, indigo, the dividivi, so celebrated for its tanning
qualities, and many other useful and medicinal herbs, barks, and roots ;
besides every variety of tropical fruits and nuts.

Agriculture, in its true sense, is not known here. The only farming
implements in use are the clumsiest kind of axe, thick iron hoe, and a
short broad-sword, called machete, which is the principal working tool,
and is made to answer the purpose of all others. The agricultural
productions, however, notwithstanding that the lack of industry and
implements lessen the quantity, attest, by their superior quality, the
fertility of the soil, regularity of the seasons, and adaptation of climate,
and consist principally of cotton, coffee, tobacco, chocolate, sugar, rice,
corn, yucama, beans, plantains, some garden vegetables, and several
tuberous roots, as sweet yucama, ya&s, and the batata.

The domestic animals of Guayana are not very plentiful in the imme-
diate vicinity of Bolivar, or lower down the river ; but they are far more
numerous in the interior, and on the upper Orinoco roam at large in
countless herds ; consisting of horses, mules, donkeys, cattle, hogs,
sheep and goats. The cattle and donkeys are much more numerous,

141

of a far better quality tban the native horse ; which is but a small
ugly and vicious pony. Hogs, sheep and goats, and particularly the
latter, though noL very abundant, are found in sufficient numbers to
supply the present demand. Domestic fowls are such as are generally
to be found in the United States ; but not nearly so numerous as would
be expected in a country that seems so favourable to the reaiing of
poultry.

The wild game deserves more attention than the space allotted at
present will allow. Both quadruped and feathered families are not
onljr very abudant, but in the greatest variety ; the former consisting
Tuamly of the tapir, great and little ant-eater, ocelot, deer, wild hogs,
and many smaller species hunted for their skins, or whose flesh is in
general use as food

The Iguana^ or edible lizard, also is very abundant and universally
considered a great delicacy by all who have ventured the experimental
taste. Monkeys of every size and variety abound in such numbers as to
be surpassed by nothing, except the feathered tribes alone. The latter
comprise all kinds of parrots, from the great red- breast Ouacharaco to the
little green Paroquette, not much larger than the thumb, the pangi or
South American turkey, the ^nehoraca, which is larger and more savoury
than any pheasant, and many others, not corresponding to any of the
varieties of the higher latitudes.

Wild bees are found in the greatest numbers wherever there is timber ;
and their honey, though encased in a jet black comb, and placed on th^
outside, around the limb, instead of in the hollow, is of the best quality,
and easily obtained by those who know how to take it without arousing
the ire of the parent swarm.

The rivers, lakes, estuaries, and even the smallest streams are, at all
seasons, literally alive with swarms of fish ; more abundant and in a
greater variety than is common to any river or fresh water lake else-
where in the world. Varying in size from the tiniest pan fish to the
great manaii or river porpoise, they afford cheap, yet most delicious
food, in the greatest abundance, to aU classes of people. Moreover, at
one season of the year, the Orinoco becomes the theatre of one of the
most novel scenes in nature. Countless thousands of large salt water
turtles gather from the brinv deep to make their annual deposit of eggs
in the incubating warmth of the sandy beaches along the rivers' banks,
and thus contribute an abundant supply of a great luxury to the neigh-
bouring population, who take them right skilfully, in great numbers, with
the harpoon and lance. Their eggs also are collected in fabulous quantities,
and by the simple process of exposing them to the heat of the sun, many
gallons of fine clear oil are made annually, and either used at home by
the people for culinary purposes, or sent to the nearest market place for
sale.

Beside these, there is also a large land turtle or terrapin, called
morocoy, that is hunted and esteemed a great delicacy by all classes of
the people. They make from it, by the addition of rice, plantain, yucama^
and a little seasoning, an excellent dish, known in their tongue as
sancoche.

Nature, moreover, offers ready at hand, many other articles of both anl-

142

ma] and vegetable food, which require no other labour or care than that of
taking or gathering the same, from her inexhaustible resources, from time
to timCj as necessity demands.

However, notwithstanding this combinatiQn of providential circum-
stances so favourable to the growth and prosperity of a oountry, Guayana
is still a vast wilderness.

The true causes, however, lie in another and far different direc-
tion. Until within the last few years, the continent, from the Rio Grande
del Norte to Cape Horn, with the exception of Brazil, was in the posses-
sion of the Spanish Government, whose jealous policy, excluding the
enterprise of all other nations, withheld from her colonies the benefits of
modern arts and sciences, and left them in that state of semi-civilization
in which they are generally found at the present day. However, since
their emancipation from this eastern system of selfish tyranny, a ma-
jority of these republics have been striving to conform themselves to the
liberal ideas of the times ; and though still young, have made most
commendable progress in the right direction.

And now, with the exception of Mexico, their ports have all been
thrown open to the commerce of the world and the industrious and
enterprising invited to come, and welcomed with warm hearted hospi-
tality to homes which lack nothing to render them glad and smiling,
but a liberal use of that tact and tident hitherto wasted on worn out and
less favoured fields of industry. And Venezuela particularly, leading
in this same bent, has removed the objections most repugnant to Anglo-
Saxon ideas. She has left nothing that could be urged against the Go-
vernment, which, for instance, is modelled after the old Constitution ;
nor the religion of her people, which, though generally Catholic, is left
in its exercise entirely to the individual's conscience. Nor can the mix-
ture of her races, their language, society, manners and customs be con-
sidered an objectionable feature. For should they not prove to the
taste, no one is compelled by force or circumstance to intermarry or
intermingle with the one, or to adopt or to pattern after either of the
others. Still there are erroneous ideas of long standing, and not con-
iined to the ignorant, but entertained by all classes with regard to the
tropics, their people, and the peculiarities which distinguish this zone
from the temperate and frigid.

First for instance, is its supposed scorching heat, the quick decay of
its vegetable matter, its rainy and dry seasons, and secondly, the sup-
posed pernicious influence exerted by all these on the general healthful-
ness of the country, and many other fallacies, which evidently originated
in weak minds or were the work of such as are given to fault finding.
A native of the country would respond by innocently inquiring how it
was possible one could. survive the pinching cold of a Northern winter, or
make a living where it requires the whole year to mature a single crop,
or raise anything at all ; where it is never known when the rain will
come ; or to live to any age in a country where, besides these evils, it re-
quires constant hard labour and exposure to the most variable climate to
gain a bare subsistence. Perhaps a correct reply to both would be that
an allwise and just Providence has seen fit to distribute His blessings
•with more impartiality than many will admit, and that the grossest

ignorance alone indaceB the people of old thickly settled countries to
raise the objections commonly urged against new sections, barely calling
attention of the adventurous to their undeveloped resources.

The comparative mildness of the climate, from the proximity of its
different parts to the sea and the mountains and the inmiense number of
its rivers and lakes — the rapid growth of its vegetation, giving a quick
return and rapid succession of abundant crops — the certaintv of rain in
its season, assuring the planter against every possibility of a drought,
the almost incredible fertility of the soil, tne cheapness of living and
little cost of clothing, no tax for five years, and exemption from miHtary
duty fpr ten, and as many more privileges that might oe adduced were it
thought necessary, should suffice to allure the most cautious.

The country is noted for the beauty of its scenery, the fertility of its
8oU, the salubrity of its climate, its magnificent and navigable rivers,
numerous lakes, and the great variety and abundance of its productions.

In conclusion, 1 can only say without presuming to advise, that to my
liking, it is the best country I have ever seen, and at least well worth the
time and expense of the visit. Therefore, go neighbour, and see for
thyself, and fare thee well until we meet in that bright sunny land be>
neath, if not the vine and fig tree, the far more preferable coffee and
mango trees of our own planting, ffcuta entonces adios,

FRA.NCI8 WaTKINS.

GOLD MINES OF VENEZUELA.

Reports of their Value and Richness — Results of Essays by English,
French, and American Mineralogists — The average yield two hundred
dollar to the ton.

Translated from the Citbdad ( Owwana) Jourrud for the "SairU Zouis

Times

Various have been the explorations which have been made of the gold
territory, and all have given the most flattering results. Since 1855, the
mines have been worked, but without regard to system or method. The
most difficult part of the work has been perfonned without other elements
than the physical strength of man. His own hands were the most perfect
instruments which he was able to obtain there. This was owing to the
fault of the roads, which, on another occasion, we have noticed. We
can state, according to the information of competent judges, that the
production of our mines from 1860 to 1862 was 1200 ounces per month.
In 1863 the production decreased on account of the abundance of rain
sad other causes which retarded the work. In 1 864 it reached again 1200
ounces. In 1865 it increased to 1500, and in 1866 the production was
calculated to be 1800 or 2000 ounces per month.

These different amounts represent the average amount of gold in each
year which was offered to the trade of that place, without including in
the calculation the small amounts which were carried by the holders to

144

foreign markets, by those who, favoured bj fortune, had enriched them-
selves and abandoned the laborious work of the mines.

From that year to 1867 the population increased every day very con-
siderably, and it seems that the veins discovered were still richer. In
the Last few days there has been offered to the trade 3000 ounces of
unrefined gold.

These results have been obtained without the auxiliary of the arts by
isolated individuals, who have no comprehension of the advantage of asso-
ciation, and we predict for those who can combine for the multiplied
labour of producmg gold, and during this year come to our shores with
the intention of organizing mining companies, an astonishing result.

In order to show the truth of what we say, compare the results of
other mines which yield very satisfactorily with ours.

The Mineral Company of Guayana sent to the United States a quantity
of quartz from th^ poorest of our mines, which was examined by Messrs.
Riesa & Theabaut, and the result was 300 dollars per ton. A little
afterwards Mr. Carlos Hahn sent to London some new specimens of
miartz, which were examined, and the result, as published by M. P. H.
Hemming in the Daily Netps, of January 19th, 1863, was as follows :
" The gold quartz exposed from that section of Venezuela which occupied
the public attention at the Exposition, contained eighty pounds, a little
more or less. The sack which contained it was selected for the ex-
periment from among twenty-two, which together weighed about fifteen
quintals, and was selected before being opened at the Exposition. I
made an examination of three pieces, two from the sack of eighty pounds
and the third was selected by the guide and weighed ten pounds. Of
the two first one produced six and a half ounces per ton, and the other
over nine ounces, and the third the famous value of £200 sterling per ton."

" The certificate of the Essayer," continued Hemming, ''demonstrated
that each ton of quartz produced on the average sixteen ounces of gold
and two ounces of silver." Moreover, in addition to that, in the different
personal interviews which have been held between those men, they have
expressed the most favourable opinions with relation to the trial
made.

M. N. Manross, geological mineralogist, a messenger appointed ex-
pressly to explore the gold lands, says, among other things : " The gold,
as great in the deposits of marl as in those of quartz, is found extra-
ordinarily large in the grain. I have examined some of the stone quartz
in order to find out the quantity of gold which it contained proportionally
to the rough weight. The stone weighed ten pounds i,€, £2. Per
consequence, the value of the vein from which that stone was extracted
would be about 2000 dollars i.e. £400 per ton. There have also beeifr'
many v^s found much more rich than that."

Mr. Conner, an engineer sufficiently skilled in' the working of mines,
who came to this city in order to lend the aid of his knowledge to the
Mining Company, made various experiments, and produced analagous
results. All this can be proven by reference to the archives of the
** Mining Company of GUayana."

145

CONCLUSION.

The purpose of the preceding pages being to give something like a
just as well as concise view of the advantages of Venezuelan
Ouayana as a site for a great Agricultural Anglo-Saxon Colony^
many reflections and observations which naturally presented them-
selves to the mind of the writer have been studiously omitted^
partly because some would naturally occur to any reader of average
intelligence and education, while others opened up questions in
science and philosophy which would be more suited to the pages
of a technical publication than to a practical Emigrant's Hand-
book; partly in order that they might be compressed within the
limits of a single chapter. Those who have carefully considered
the geographical situation and general aspect of this country, with
its magnificent water-sheds, marvellously fertile alluvial soil,
extensive seaboard, and equable, healthy climate, cannot fail to
perceive, at a glance, that it is exceptionably favoured by nature.
They will not be surprised to find that the productions of animal
Tie with those of vegetable life in richness, luxuriant variety, and
beauty ; and that the hand of man need do little more than direct
the grand forces of semi-tropical naturo, to turn a beautiful wilder-
ness into an El Dorado of industry and commercial enterprise.
Let the fearless, industrious, plodding, Anglo-Saxon plunge boldly
into the forests, or force his way up the feeders of the mighty
Orinoco, bringing with him the plough, the cotton gin, sugar and
timber mills; in a word, the science, capital, and surplus laoour of
the East to the soil of the West, under a kindly, fostering, aristo-
cratic republican form of government; and, in a few years, neither
the planters of the Southern States, nor the cotton lords of England,
will have reason to regret the cowardly ineptitude of a Bussell, or
the savage policy of such as Butler and Lincoln. The nature of
the climate and the products of the soil ; the facilities for trans-
porting by water those products from the most distant parts of the
country to the entrep6ts of commerce, with Europe and the adjacent
countries, have been dwelt upon in the preceding pages, many of
which are extracted verbatim from the works of the illustrious
Yon Humboldt. There cannot, therefore, be any doubt as to the
truth of the statements put forth. It is only marvellous that the .
less favoured latitudes of the United States should have been
selected by the early Anglo-Saxon emigrants. That those crop-

146

eared canting coyenanters^ who^ leaving their country for that
country's good^ settled the bleak districts of New England, should
have selected a site so congenial to their own vilianous, hard,
chilly natures is no marvel ; but that the chivabous cavaliers^ who
peopled Virginia, Maryland, and other Southern States, should
have placed themselves next door to the Pilgrim Fathers^ their
enemies, through all time, before then, from then, till now, and
hereafter, was an error which their ha^ess descendants have fear-
fully atoned for in blood and tears. That Virginia was the point
selected for the infant colony, established by those well-born and
educated English gentlemen who fled from the vulgar persecution
of the Yankee regicides of that eera, was probably due to the jealous
occupation, by Spain and Portugal, of the richer and more desirable
regions of the South American continent. Had they peopled the
fertile and well watered regions of Venezuela, Demerara, and the
Brazils, all commerce would have been conducted directly with
England, and the Northern United States would never have grown
BO wealthy and powerful as they did whilst acting as middlemen
between the cotton, tobacco, ana corn producers of the Southern-
States, and the manu&cturers of Europe. This state of things has
now come to an end. The citizens of the Southern States are
already trooping eagerly to the promised land ; among their
greatest inducements being the fact, that the broad sea, and the
uninhabited equatorial regions of a great continent, divide them
utterly from the deserted homes of their ancient love, as well us
fit>m the foe of their unquenchable hate and scorn. Never again
will they place themselves in political relation with their relentless
persecutors.

The planters of the South are essentially an agricultural^ and
not a manufacturing people. As heretofore they will raise their
staples, which they will sell or exchange for such manufactured
goods as they require ; but they will no longer be clogged with
that ^^ peculiar institution " which they received from the mother
country. Venezuela will be tilled by free laboub. Connection
with the new colony will be equally advantageous to the emigrants
(whether Southerners or settlers from the over-populated districts
of Europe), and to the merchants, and manufacturers, and capi-
talists of the world, for these latter are cosmopolitan. The
colonists will ofiier a large and increasing market for manufactured
goods of the most varied description, while their exports will be
eagerly sought in the marts of less &voured climes. The forn^er
market will be the more secure, that it cannot be in the interest
of the people who have got possession of this immense and rich
territory to neglect agriculture, that most safe and certain

147.

of all callings^ for the more precarious profits which arise from
manufactures.

In the new colony the laws and manners must necessarily
assimilate to our own ; the language is English, and the govern-
ment evidently will approach that of Great Britain as nearly as a
republican well can to a monarchical form. Though there will be
much that is great and much that is brilliant in this not new but
regenerated commerce^ all must be solid and good : it will be a
connection founded on mutual wants and mutual conveniency, not
on monopoly, restriction, or coercion; for that reason it will be
the more durable^ and ought to be the more eagerly sought for
and valued. One circumstance^ which makes the trade peculiarly
favourable for Britain is^ that this country^ by far the most fertile
and extensive of the healthy and well watered regions of the
American continent, will absorb an enormous population before the
resources of the soil can be developed to anything like their average
of productive power. The labour and capital of the inhabitants
will naturally be turned entirely to agriculture, and not to manu-
factures^ and will be so for a great number of years : for when
there are fifty millions of people in the territory, that population
would still be insufficient for the proper cultivation of the entire
area. The grand fecundity of the soil will enable the colonists,
with great ease to themselves, to make returns in produce wanted
in jBurope, so that we may expect a durable, great, and advan-
tageous trade with them. British manufactures will not have to
compete with a protective tariff. No colony that we read of in
history ever enjoyed equal advantages at starting with the States
of Venezuelan Guayana. They have good laws, a free govern-
ment, cheap and fertile lands, splendid water communication by
navigable canals of nature's own making, and are possessed of all
the knowledge and experience in the growing ot their staples,
accumulated during centuries by their inhabitants, prior to the
settlement of the district by an Anglo-Saxon race. Arts and men
are noV conveyed across the Atlantic with more ease than they
were in the olden time firom England to France. It is possible
that the opening of a new market of so great an extent may do
away with those jealousies of commerce which have, during the
last two or three centuries, occasioned many quarrels, and which
are peculiarly dangerous to a nation that has risen to so great a
position as the British.

The first colonists have the advantage of being already accli-
matised to a semi-tropical zone. They can at once, without fear
or delay, settle the alluvial lands on the coasts and main streams.
Experienced in the culture of such territory^ they will not waste

time or labour^ and the very experience which enables them to do
this is, to a great extent, a property which those who join them
from the less sunny climes of Europe will profit by largely. These
latter will be advised to at once proceed to the higher plateaus,
wh«re the altitude of the situation modifies the temperature to a
European standard. Just as those who sufier in the low plains of
Bengal recover health and strength in the glorious atmosphere of
the Himalayas, so the European in other tropical countries can
enjoy the most perfect salubrity in the more mountainous districts.
After a time, he may descend into the plains with impunity. The
Southerner has already made up his mind to remove bis desecrated
household gods, and, like the Trojans of old, found a new Ilion
on the banks of the white-tided Orinoco. The European who pants
for broad acres and fireedom will soon find his way to a land where
he may exchange his hopeless position as a hired toiler at the best
of times for the rights of the citizen and the independence of the
landowner. Any man may here purchase a freehold plot of
160 acres of fertile land, free from all taxes and rates, for £25
sterling ; and this too paid in a manner which is neither oppressive
or diiiicult. It must be remembered that when men inhabit and
cultivate land of their own, they are under no necessity of creating
any greater value than they consume ; but when they pay rent
and TAXES, they are under a necessity of producing enough to
supply their own wants, as well as to pay the rent and taxes for
which they are held liable. Without rent and taxes there are only
three things that excite the exertion of man : necessity arising from
natural wants ; love of pleasure ; or love*of accumulation. When
a man only labours to just such an extent as will supply his actual
wants, he remains a poor man, but may be happier in his lack of
so-called wealth than another who merely labours to hoard or
squander. Any man content to live comfortably without much
exertion or care for the future, could do so in this country, on
account of the prodigality of nature in food products, and the
equable warmth of the climate at all seasons ; and a struggling
mechanic, or labourer with a large family, would do far better here
than in the United States, Canada, Australia, the Cape, or any
other Anglo-Saxon colony. He has not got to struggle against
nature or man ; and from extremes of heat and cold, drought and
moisture, he is equally free. Once settled on his plot, he may enjoy
the luxury of abundant idleness without fear of suffering from cold
or hunger. An emigrant of this class is not the most desirable ;
still, it he observes the laws, he is a harmless if not veiy active
member of society, and at all events helps to populate the territory.
Those who come with the determination of following the grand

149

Anglo-Saxon precedent of putting their hands to steady unremitting
labour^ for the sake of labour and the profit and honour which
follow honest exertion, will surely bless the day on which they left
their over-populated fatherland for the fertile primeval glades of
Guayana. The distance at which the territory is placed from
Europe (seventeen days only) is comparatively short as compared
with the greater British colonies (except Canada), and this accessi-
bility is a great feature in its favour. The mouth of the Orinoco is
infinitely more favourably situated than that of the Mississippi^ and
is far more accessible to the commerce of the world.

The Coroni, fed with the products of the entire country, by the
innumerable rivers which intersect every district, all pouring their
waters into the Orinoco and its 400 tributaries, presents far greater
facilities for gathering the staples of distant plantations and farms
rapidly and cheaply into her warehouses and wharves than New
Orleans ; and emigration will receive an enormous stimulus through
the lowness of the rates at which vessels carrying valuable freights
hoth wayi will be able to compete for passengers.

The man who works his passage out, and lands without a shil-
ling, will be eagerly welcomed and put to honest and profitable
labour, and with ordinary sobriety and steadiness of purpose, cannot
fail to attain independence, and perhaps great wealth. The small
capitalist, with a few hundred dollars and a strong arm, may at
once assume the position of a prosperous yeoman ; while the owner
of a few hundreds of pounds can purchase two square miles of
land, and with little exertion on his part, may live in comfort, and
even luxury, for the res^ of his life. But even this latter will do
well to work for the first few years after his arrival. We have not
laid any stress on the mineral wealth of the country, although it is
notorious that this is very great, especially in the most precious of.
metals — gold. We do not think that mining is so desirable or
stable a source of true wealth and prosperity as agriculture. It is
highly probable that hereafter there will be a rush to the gold
regions, which will attract a large, and possibly turbulent and
roving population. Our impression is that such an influx would
affect the colony for good ; those who came for gold would stay
for agriculture, and even among the mere diggers there would not
be so much hardship felt as in other countries. Where water is
abundant, especially in the form of navigable rivers, and the sun is
genial^ food is cheap, and carriage easy. The gold-seeker is an
excellent pioneer, and under a strong government any tendencies to
rowdyism are easily repressed. The desperadoes of California were
soon brought to order in Australia and British Columbia, and ^e
State Government of Guayana values the blessings of peace and order

160

far too highly to permit their infraction. We have no doubt
that nauch that we have written will give offence to many on
the other side of the Atlantic, and to some on this. We regret it,
but could not do otherwise. For the rest we shall justify ourselves
by the wise apothegm of Bacon : " If offence come out of truth,
it were better that the offence come than that the truth be
concealed!"

The riglit of Translation and future Editions reserved hy

the Author,

FINIS

Page 1 line

ERRATA.

12 for others . . . . . . read Dntcb.

13 „ license . . . . . . „ licence.

28 „ To whom then conld

they look . . . . ,», To whom could they look.
40 after results a period instead of a comma.

17 for great

40 „ agriculturalist

42 „ Venezuela

38 „ 240 miles

17 „ covers . .

36 „ a chilling night wind. .

17 n 1®^ 1^0 books . .

read larger.

agriculturist.

Venezuelan.

200 miles.

cover.

a chilling wind.

left but few books.

»i

>»

•»

»»

11 32 ,,

10 ,, the Capital of the future Confederate States of Venezuela,

read the Emporium of the Price Grant.
19 „ now settling at Coroni read are now settling at various

points in the Grant.

Venezuelan Government.

nearly all the books.

yacca.

vide Humboldt's personal
Narrative, 3rd ed. 1822.

Sugar-cane

price current.

Venezuelan.

Venezuela.

„ 32

„ Venezuela Government

,, 32

„ all the books . .

„ 35

,, yaca . . . . • •

,, 36

„ vide Humboldt

11 37

„ The Sugar Cane

11 37

„ price currents. .

„ 42

„ Venezuela

11 50

„ Venezeula

„ 50

tt It • • • •

., 62

,, pear shaped . .

11 84

„ vide B. H. Schomburgh

„99

„ Congress

n 99

tt tt • • • •

,,100

tt ,t • • • •

,,100

tt ,t • • • •

,,100

tt tt • • • •

,,100

tt ,t • • • •

,,101

tt t»

,,101

tt tt . • • • t

,,136

,, flecked . .

,,137

„ left hand bank of th

»t

pear-shaped.

vide Sir B. H. Schomburgh

Congi'eo.

,t
decked,
er, read
descending that river.

The Chartered American, English and Venezuelan
Trading and Commercial Company.

Authorised Capital by Charter from the State of Virginia^ U.S.^ and

ratified by the Hon. Hugh Mc Culloch, Secretary of the Treasury at

Washington, D. C, United States of America.

Capital ^2,000,000 Minimum
$40,000,000 Maximum.

The bnsrness of this Company is to promote emigration, both from
North America and Europe, to the great land grant of 240,000 square
miles of fertile territory ceded by the Venezuelan Government to
Dr. Henry M. Price, of Scottsville, Virginia, and his associates, and to
supply the colonists with British manufactures in exchange for the raw
products of their industry.

BOABD OF DIRECTOBS & OFFICERS IN THE U.S. OF AMERICA.

Dr. HENBT M. PRICE Honorary President.

R. R. COLLIER, Esq Vice President, Petersburg, Virginia.

C. HORNSEY, Esq Treasurer.

JACOB H. BRIGGS, Esq Secretary.

JOHN A. DOLL, Esq Director General of Stores and Emigration,

Puerto Las Tablas, on the Orinoco River,
Guayana, South America

Dr. HENRY M. PRICE (Grantee) . . ScottsviDe, Virginia.

JOHN A. DOLL, Esq of SoottsviUe, Virginia.

JACOB H. BRIGGS, Esq

C. HORNSEY, Esq „ Fluvanna County, Virginia.

A. F. RUDLER, Esq / Augusta, Georgia.

J. FREDERICK PATTISON, Esq., (late) of Baltimore County, Maryland.
BENJAMIN P. VANCOUBT, Esq., of the City of New Orleans, Louisiana.
Senor FLORENCIO RIBAS „ » New York, Charge d^ Affaires for

Venezuela, South America

B. H. MUSSEB, Esq of St. Louis, Missouri.

^IKters in jtonbon.

JAMES FREDERICK 'PK1TV&0}!{,'&wi., Managing Director for England and Europe
ALFRED ADDISON BLANDY, Esq., M.D., 57, Gloucester Place, Hyde Park, W., (late

H. B. M. ConsvX at Grd. Para, S.A.,; Director.
J. LESLIE CLARK, Esq of St. Louis, Missouri, i^Miftont ;9«cretary.

|$olixtt0rs.
Messrs. HENRY BANCE & SON. . . . Cambridge, and at the Offices of the Company

Richmond, Virginia, United States America.

London, England, S, The Crescent, America Square, E.O.

Guayana, Puerto Las Tablas, on the Orinoco River, South America.

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